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Kidlat Tahimik honored in MET Gallery’s first National Artist exhibit of 2026

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ABS-CBN Lifestyle

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770810097734IMG_0002.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="National Artist Kidlat Tahimik. Handout"/>National Artist Kidlat Tahimik. Handout</div>MANILA — The Metropolitan Theater (MET), in partnership with the Order of National Artists, opened on Tuesday “Portraits of a National Artist as Kultur Warrior,” an exhibition dedicated to National Artist Kidlat Tahimik in celebration of National Arts Month 2026.The show marks the first installment of the MET’s National Artists Exhibit Series for the year and pays tribute to Tahimik’s life, advocacy and cultural influence as a filmmaker and champion of indigenous identity and decolonization.Tahimik attended the opening and shared updates on a film project he has been developing for four decades. The film follows the journey of a Filipino slave who accompanied Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.National Commission for Culture and the Arts deputy executive director for operations Bernan Joseph R. Corpuz also delivered remarks during the opening program.“Nawa’y magsilbing paanyaya ang eksibit na ito na patuloy nating ipaglaban at ipagdiwang ang ating kultura — nang may tapang, pagkamalikhain, at pagmamalaki,” Corpuz said.Long before he was named National Artist, Tahimik had already become a subject for portrait artists, caricaturists, photographers and fellow cultural workers. Recognizable for his goatee, dreadlocks and playful smile — often seen behind his bamboo camera — Tahimik has inspired generations of artists across disciplines.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770810278914IMG_0336.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="National Artist Kidlat Tahimik. Handout"/>National Artist Kidlat Tahimik. Handout</div>The exhibition traces five decades of visual interpretations of the artist through works by various creatives. Featured pieces include a 1973 painting by his wife, Katrin de Guia; a 1983 editorial cartoon by Nonoy Marcelo; photographs from the 1990s by cinematographer Boy Yñiguez; woodworks by Ifugao carver Chris Atiwon; documentary photographs by Tommy Hafalla; and sketches by his grandchildren created in 2025.Collectively, the works present the evolving image of the octogenarian filmmaker and cultural advocate, reflecting both artistic interpretation and reverence for a mentor whose work continues to challenge colonial narratives and celebrate Filipino identity, particularly from the Cordillera region.“Portraits of a National Artist as Kultur Warrior” runs until February 28 at the Metropolitan Theater Gallery. The exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

National Artist Kidlat Tahimik is celebrated in “Portraits of a National Artist as Kultur Warrior,” the first MET Gallery National Artists exhibit of 2026. The show features five decades of portraits, photographs, sketches and woodworks.

National Artist Kidlat Tahimik is celebrated in “Portraits of a National Artist as Kultur Warrior,” the first MET Gallery National Artists exhibit of 2026. The show features five decades of portraits, photographs, sketches and woodworks.

Kidlat Tahimik honored in MET’s first National Artist exhibit of 2026

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Kidlat Tahimik honored in MET’s first National Artist exhibit of 2026

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

Published Feb 11, 2026 07:46 PM PHT

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