BACHI Hosts Figure Drawing Workshop With Visiting Artist Renato Habulan

Bacolod Arts, Cultural & Heritage Inc (BACHI) recently held a workshop in Bacolod City on Figure Drawing and Art Talk featuring renowned artist and mentor Renato Habulan, in collaboration with Kyle Jocson, Vice President of BACHI and owner of the Abstract Art Gallery.

Figure drawing — the practice of capturing the human form in any pose, medium, or style — was at the heart of the session. With a live model, artist Maria Isabel Destacamento guided participants in exploring anatomy, light and movement, emphasizing the structures and volume of the body form.

Renato Habulan, born into a working-class family in Sunog Apog, Tondo — recognized as Manila’s first “Smokey Mountain”— is widely recognized for using art as a means to confront injustice and inequality during the Martial Law era. Immersing himself in the lives of farmers and laborers, Habulan’s involvement in community theater and cultural work has solidified his role as a leading voice in the social movement. His presence at the workshop offered participants a rare opportunity to engage with both his artistic practice and his social vision.

Some 15 participants — drawn from various art colleges as well as emerging and seasoned artists — took part in the workshop, gaining insights into both technical skill and the deeper responsibilities of artistic practice.

This event also marked the ceremonial launch of a larger art collaboration set to unfold in November, promising to further strengthen ties between artists, institutions and communities.*