Santiago Bose

b. 
1949
Baguio City
Benguet
Conceptual

Biography

Santiago Bose (1949-2002) was a mixed-media artist, educator, community organizer and art theorist from Baguio City, Philippines. As co-founder of the Baguio Arts Guild, he pioneered the use of indigenous materials in contemporary art. His work incorporated materials like bamboo, found objects, and volcanic ash to create influential assemblages that championed indigenous cultures, particularly from his home region of the Cordilleras. His practice was marked by deep criticality while maintaining humor and wit, focusing on folk consciousness, religiosity, and traditional cultures' resilience against foreign influences.

Notable information

  • Received the Thirteen Artists Award from Cultural Center of the Philippines (1976)
  • Participated in Third Asian Art Show in Fukuoka, Japan (1989)
  • Exhibited at Havana Biennial in Cuba (1989)
  • Featured in First Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane (1993)
  • Exhibited at Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (2000)
  • Awarded "Gawad ng Maynila: Patnubay ng Sining at Makabagong Pamamaraan" (2002)
  • Posthumously received "Gawad CCP Para sa Sining" Award for Visual Arts (2004)
  • Shortlisted posthumously for National Artist award (2006)

Native Song
Acrylic paint, Cotton, Textile
H. 291.5 cm x W. 243.8 cm
,
1999
Image courtesy of 
Google Arts & Culture (Asian Art Museum Collection)
9-11 Return of the Comeback
mural
135h x 135w in • 342.90h x 342.90w cm
,
2002
Image courtesy of 
Silverlens Galleries