Bu'lul by Marge DC Gomez
Subjects: Bu'lul and Tinagtagu Heads
Artist: Marge DC Gomez
Year painted: 2018 A.D.
Size: 20 x 24
Price: Php18,000 (SOLD in 2021)
Bu'luls are anthropomorphic sculptures that are usually made of wood, such as Narra or Ipil, or stones (mostly river stones) and could be found on granaries and payaos. [1] [2] These sculptures are regarded as deities, specifically as 'rice gods' and like the Anitos of different Igorot tribes, Bu'luls are also believed to house the spirits of dead ancestors, providing protection and granting bountiful harvest. As can be seen on most poses of Bu'luls, seated comfortably with its arms wrap around/on its knees, suggesting preparedness s to put in long hours of watchful waiting. [3]
Even in today's time, though these are being sold as souvenir items and decorative arts, Bu'luls still play a huge and great role in the rituals of the Ifugaos, especially those that are related to agriculture. [4]
The three Bu'lul heads in this collection are inspired by actual Bu'luls located at Gallery Ergo (owned by the artist and her husband Erni Gomez).
[1] Payao is the original/local term for the rice terraces.
[2] Alternate spellings are Bulul and Bul'ul. Most Ifugaos calls it Bu'lul.
[3] Hoffie, P. (2009). ACUADS 2009: Inteventions in the Public Domain. In The bulul and the economy of patience (Musings on sustainability through contemporary art in the Philippines). Queensland, Australia; Griffith University. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/bitstream/handle/10072/30826/62554_1.pdf%3Bsequence=1.
[4]Drew. (2019, April 22). [web log]. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https://www.igorotage.com/blog/p/wpmzZ/bulul-ifugao-rice-god.
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