Elmer Borlongan's body of work is a triumph on form and imperfection. His characters, distorted and stylized figurations of the human physique, expose the downtrodden's struggles in an impaired society. Borlongan is well aware of the imperfectness of this world—and he compels viewers to confront them head-on.
Borlongan began his drawing and painting lessons under the inspired tutelage of Fernando Sena at the early age of eleven. He took art courses at the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts as a painting major and had won numerous awards in various painting competitions.
He had won numerous awards in various painting competitions and exhibited extensively overseas. Among the places in which he held shows were Malaysia, Singapore, New York, Brisbane, Tokyo, and Honolulu.
Since then, Borlongan has continued to explore his signature style of figurative expressionism. His works are expositions of the human form (representing the common Filipino) in rural and urban environments. When not painting, he also does rubber printmaking to express his reflections on life, isolation, hope, and struggle.
Borlongan is included in the roster of the prestigious Thirteen Artists Awards (1994) and has represented the Philippines in various international art festivals. In 1996, he was Artist-in-Residence in ARCUS Ibaraki, Japan. His works are in the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and the Singapore Art Museum collections.
He recently finished "The Battle of Mactan", a mural created in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the victory of Lapu-lapu in the battle of Mactan island. The mural will be displayed at the National Museum until May 2022 and will be toured for a year to regional National Museums in Ilocos, Iloilo and Zamboanga.
He currently resides with his artist wife Plet Bolipata in San Antonio, Zambales.
Quaderno by Elmer Borlongan
Lorton Rocker | oil on canvas (2016)
West Village Trumpeteer | oil on canvas (2016)
Global Pintados | oil on canvas (2016)
Columbus Circle Blues | oil on canvas (2016)