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(The following is continued from the main article listed above.) “I had a strong foundation on arts,” Rameer said. “I traced my love for arts and it came from my mother’s side. At an early age, I was very much exposed to art, especially Tausug art. My grandfather plays the violin and he was really good at “ukkil” (Tausug term for wood carving). Their house has all the imprints of a rich cultural art. My grandmother used to saw and decorate “Sablay” (Tausug dress) and she would ask me to draw designs where she would put beads and other decorative materials,” he continued. It is no surprise then that Rameer pursued a degree on architecture at Western Mindanao State University (WMSU). However, visual art had a stronger pull on him than designing buildings and infrastructures. “When I was in college, I would skip my mathematics classes. It was for me an exact science. Art is the opposite. It’s infinite. Instead of attending my math class, I would instead go to the library and read about Van Gogh’s and Picasso’s works. That’s when I knew that I am destined to be an artist,” he shared. In his third year in college, he started joining art exhibits. “I started joining exhibits with my works focusing on culture. I had works on rural Tausug life setting,” he said. His colorful works is at best the color of peace itself, vibrant and lively, yet strong and soul-searching. His works speak a lot for a guy who is reserved and soft spoken. He uses his work to communicate to all that without peace, life would not be vibrant and lively. That’s why his works make us think not just of ourselves but the future generations whose well being and security of their future depend on us living at the moment. Rameer never forgot the 1974 burning of Jolo town. That incident haunted him through the years. It was in 2002 when he decided to turn that nightmare into perhaps his most powerful tool to pursue peace not just in Sulu but for the whole of Mindanao. “I decided to paint that incident which remained fresh in my mind. I entitled it “The Burning of Jolo,” and turned out to be my most published art work,” he said. His work has not just reached the consciousness of the Filipinos but also foreigners as well. His work has become one of the most sought-after masterpieces by local and foreign art collectors. He could have sold it and made a lot of money. But Rameer held on to it as if it’s his life. “A US Navy Commodore once offered me to buy it. But I politely refused him. It’s a personal property. I could have made a lot of money by selling it. But by doing so, I would have sold a part of my life. It’s the only work that I know comes from the artist’s own experience, my experience. You will never find another work that is a product of one’s experience. Most of the artists’ works now are based on what they read or hear. If it’s lost it’s like losing my advocacy for peace,” Rameer stressed. Asked if what he wants for his work, he replied, “I would be willing to donate it provided it will be preserved and let everybody have an opportunity to see it. I would prefer to donate it locally, perhaps our local museum. That’s what I want.” He said “The Burning of Jolo” has a continuation of sort, which, he entitled “Jolocaust” a depiction of the sufferings of the Tausug people during the war, which is in some way a reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s “Holocaust.” One of Rameer’s works was also declared the official symbol of peace in Mindanao. It was unveiled during the World Interfaith Harmony Week February, this year. It’s also being used in other countries to depict peace, he said. As part of his continuing advocacy, Rameer has accepted ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman’s invitation to teach kids on art. He said it’s a very good opportunity to instill the culture of peace to children. “The Culture of peace should start with kids. It is important to instill in the minds of the young ones the essence of peace. Although they may not immediately grasp the idea, the lessons will surely be kept in their subconscious area. Sooner or later, it will just come out,” he said. As of this writing, Rameer is conducting a five-day Summer Art Workshop on Peace for kids. As one art collector said about his work, “It’s like your work is literally moving. It’s just very impacting”, he quoted. Because of his art and advocacy, the unassuming Rameer Tawasil, has gained respect worldwide. He has already held one-man exhibits in Belgium, Sweden, and just recently, Malaysia. His works on peace have preceded his name here and abroad. He also shared to us his effective tools not just to sell his works, but more important, to make others understand about his peace advocacy through art. “Being an artist, you should also be a cultural worker. When you’re in an exhibit don’t just sit there and let people see your work. Go to them and make an effort to explain to them what your work is all about so that they will know what they will be getting and your advocacy as an artist,”he explained. A friend once told him, “Why stay in Mindanao? Come to Manila and paint here.” Rameer answered, “There’s an inescapable reason for Mindanao culture, arts, and even social issues to paint. You cannot escape. There are so many things you can paint about Mindanao. It’s different when a non-Mindanaoan artist paints about Mindanao. It will turn out differently”. “Personally, I really don’t know what my trade mark is. I usually do all kinds of visual arts. Some say I’m into Fluidism, others, Futurism. But if I would really assess my work, I’m more into Ukkilism,” he said. Ukkilsm came from the Tausug term “ukkil” or wood carving. Art enthusiasts say his works are like wood carving, only, it’s on canvass. “I have been working on this piece since 2003, but I have yet to finish it. It’s about the Massacre of Bud Dajo,” He said. Bud Dajo or Mt. Dajo is one of the historical sites of Tausug’s resistance to outside conquerors. Thousands died after American forces tried to capture Sulu. Rameer is very careful not to depict wrong messages on his work that he spent a lot of time researching and even personally interviewing the descendants of those killed in Bud Dajo. “It’s like writing history. If something is wrong in my work, then I made a wrong depiction of history. To make sure that I have the right information, I read a lot of books and even personally go to the site of the massacre and interviewed descendants of those killed,\" he said. Truly, art speaks a thousand words. The messages it relay may differ from one person to the other. But Rameer’s work is unmistakably clear! Wars, sufferings, deaths, separation from family can be avoided if we have peace. For as long as peace is elusive here in Mindanao, there will always be calls for peace in any way or form. And we will always find it in Rameer’s works. If you are for peace, and are interested in his works, you can just Google search it and you will see how art can be a powerful tool for peace.' |