Tree Huggers
Elmer Borlongan and Lito Mondejar
The Tree Huggers, a collaboration between Elmer Borlongan and Lito Mondejar, is a sculpture based on Borlongan’s painting of the same title. This monumental piece, crafted by Mondejar and his team with the guidance from Borlongan, is one of the key features of the Biennale, and the Tumba-Tumba Children’s Museum of Philippine Art. The sculpture depicts the colorful Bagras or Rainbow Eucalyptus tree, popularly known for its colorful orange, blue and green colored trunk.
The Artists
Elmer Borlongan is a prominent force in the art scene. He is one of those rare artists who is both critically acclaimed and also most coveted by collectors. He has been a trusted and most supportive partner of CANVAS from the very beginning - he was the first artist to work on our Romeo Forbes Children’s Story Writing Competition, out of which emerged The Rocking Horse (authored by Becky Bravo), which is now also the inspiration for the name of our Museum.
Manilito “Lito” Mondejar studied and worked under the tutelage of National Artist Napoleon Abueva and Anastacio Caedo. His works are mainly free standing, functional, and outdoor monumental sculptures.
