Lito Mayo

Lito Mayo

Lito Mayo as an art student at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila (1973)
Born Manolito Tolentino Mayo
(1954-12-17)December 17, 1954
Lipa City, Batangas
Died May 4, 1983(1983-05-04) (aged 28)
Manila, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Known for Visual arts
Movement Cubism, Dada, Surrealism, Psychedelia

Lito Mayo (December 17, 1954 – May 4, 1983) was a Filipino graphic artist, print-maker, avantegarde poet, social activist, sculptor, satirist, and art professor. His prolific career was brief; it lasted only a mere decade. He was one of the active young artists who experimented, collaborated, and exhibited art works in the thriving hubs of modernist and contemporary galleries and art associations in Ermita District of Manila. He was also credited by his peers and art writers as the "Original Punk" of Philippine Arts.,[1][2]

Early life

"Toto" as known to friends and family, was born Manolito Tolentino Mayo on December 17, 1954 in Lipa City, Batangas, the eldest son and second child, of banker and entrepreneur Sebastian Mayo and Belen Tolentino Mayo, a teacher and homemaker. Lito Mayo has six other siblings- Nelson Mayo (businessman), Merle Laquian (artist), Zaide Manes (homemaker), and Nancy Rabena (educator), Elvira Milo and Abeth Garcia (both medical doctors). His father was an employee at the Philippine National Bank branch of Lipa City who retired early to establish The Lipa Trading Company, a small-scale, but multifaceted family business endeavor that included insurance, financing, real estate, agriculture, and a Suzuki motorcycle dealership and tricycle shop.

He studied at De La Salle Lipa, a local high school ran by the Lasallian Brothers. Then, just barely 17 years old and barely out of highschool, Lito Mayo got married to Irma Hermano on June 19, 1971. The bride was the daughter of Porfirio and Pacita Hermano who owned and operated D'Crowns Tailoring, an establishment that serves the uniforms and flight suits need of the military student aviators and officers inside Fernando Air Base.

The couple had two sons. Michelangelo Mayo was born on December 11, 1971 and Leonardo Mayo on June 15, 1975. He would later have a two-man show with his son Michelangelo (at age 7) in celebration of The International Year of the Child.

The Thomasian Life: University Days and Activism

Eventually, he enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas where he completed his BA in Fine Arts.

He was a Philippine artist who was won several major competitions while in the University of Santo Tomas, including the 1973 Sculpture and Graphics Awards, 1977 AAP Graphic Arts Competition,[3] and the 1980 Critic's Choice Awards for Graphic Arts. He was believed to be the very first punk in the Philippines, through his hairstyle, looks, lifestyle and his artworks. He also actively supported the alternative music in the mid-1970s.

His early work in college was heavily inspired by Cubism, wood print blocks and sculptures. Mayo established himself in graphic arts, with print plate etching as his major technique. Intaglio, xerographics, and silkscreen processes were also incorporated into his early works. Business Day writer Angel G. De Jesus wrote that Mayo was 'a surrealistic expressionist with a satiric sense of humor.'[4]

Mayo's subjects and compositions usually embodied magical themes, amulets, animal people, and subconscious wanderings. In his work Pula Puti, he depicted a cockfight scene with roosters having human forms - the two gladiatorial roosters having strong, muscular physiques.

References

  1. Violent Dispersal: Dalawang Dekada ng Musika ni Bobby Balingit Santos, S. Violent Dispersal: Dalawang Dekada ng Musika ni Bobby Balingit “Punk na ako nun, naimpluwensiyahan ni Lito Mayo, isang pintor na punk.” "I was Punk then, influenced by Lito Mayo who was a Punk artist." In-text: (Santos, 2008) Bibliography: Santos, S. (2008). Violent Dispersal: Dalawang Dekada ng Musika ni Bobby Balingit. [online] Violentdispersal.blogspot.com. Available at: http://violentdispersal.blogspot.com/2008/01/dalawang-dekada-ng-musika-ni-bobby.html [Accessed 21 Jun. 2014].
  2. De Jesus, A. G. Vignettes Column; Lito Mayo In-text: (De Jesus, 2014) Bibliography: De Jesus, A. (2014). Vignettes Column; Lito Mayo. Business Day, p.12.
  3. Artverite.net Lito Mayo Artists Profiles In-text: (Artverite.net, 2014)Bibliography: Artverite.net, (2014). Artists Profiles. [online] Available at: http://www.artverite.net/artists_profiles.htm [Accessed 21 May. 2014].
  4. De Jesus, A. G. Vignettes Column; Lito Mayo In-text: (De Jesus, 2014) Bibliography: De Jesus, A. (2014). Vignettes Column; Lito Mayo. Business Day, p.12.

Bibliography

  • Artverite.net

Lito Mayo Artists Profiles In-text: (Artverite.net, 2014) Bibliography: Artverite.net, (2014). Artists Profiles. [online] Available at: http://www.artverite.net/artists_profiles.htm [Accessed 21 May. 2014].

  • De Jesus, A. G.

Vignettes Column; Lito Mayo In-text: (De Jesus, 2014) Bibliography: De Jesus, A. (2014). Vignettes Column; Lito Mayo. Business Day, p. 12.

  • Graphic artists pay tribute to Lito Mayo

In-text: (Graphic artists pay tribute to Lito Mayo, 1983) Bibliography: Graphic artists pay tribute to Lito Mayo. (1983). Celebrity Magazine, p. 28.

  • Violent Dispersal: Dalawang Dekada ng Musika ni Bobby Balingit

Santos, S. Violent Dispersal: Dalawang Dekada ng Musika ni Bobby Balingit

“Punk na ako nun, naimpluwensiyahan ni Lito Mayo, isang pintor na punk.” "I was Punk then, influenced by Lito Mayo who was a Punk artist."

In-text: (Santos, 2008) Bibliography: Santos, S. (2008). Violent Dispersal: Dalawang Dekada ng Musika ni Bobby Balingit. [online] Violentdispersal.blogspot.com. Available at: http://violentdispersal.blogspot.com/2008/01/dalawang-dekada-ng-musika-ni-bobby.html [Accessed 21 June. 2014].

  • Pacete, A.

Bro. Manolito "Lito" Mayo a Future National Artist - Thomasian Triskelion - The Proud. The Brave. Tau Gamma Phi - Triskelions Grand Fraternity In-text: (Pacete, 2007) Bibliography: Pacete, A. (2007). Bro. Manolito "Lito" Mayo a Future National Artist - Thomasian Triskelion - The Proud. The Brave. Tau Gamma Phi - Triskelions Grand Fraternity. [online] Thomasian Triskelion - The Proud. The Brave. Tau Gamma Phi - Triskelions Grand Fraternity. Available at: http://www.thomasiantriskelion.org/2007/09/15/bro-manolito-lito-mayo-a-future-national-artist/ [Accessed 1 Jul. 2014]. Fraternity. [online] Available at: http://www.thomasiantriskelion.org/2007/09/15/bro-manolito-lito-mayo-a-future-national-artist/ [Accessed 25 April. 2014].

  • Maghirang, T.

Folk rock pioneer Heber Bartolome mounts benefit art show for fellow artist In-text: (Maghirang, 2014) Bibliography: Maghirang, T. (2014). Folk rock pioneer Heber Bartolome mounts benefit art show for fellow artist. [online] Yahoo Celebrity Philippines. Available at: https://ph.celebrity.yahoo.com/news/folk-rock-pioneer-heber-bartolome-mounts-benefit-art-show-for-fellow-artist-051703536.html [Accessed 1 July. 2014].

  • Gonzalo Gallery

About Gonzalo Gallery In-text: (Gonzalo Gallery, 2012) Bibliography: Gonzalo Gallery, (2012). About Gonzalo Gallery. [online] Available at: http://philippineartsale.wordpress.com/about/ [Accessed 4 May. 2014].

  • De Leon, R.

Abet '75 Newly Ordained Deacon - Thomasian Triskelion - The Proud. The Brave. Tau Gamma Phi - Triskelions Grand Fraternity In-text: (De Leon, 2008) Bibliography: De Leon, R. (2008). Abet '75 Newly Ordained Deacon - Thomasian Triskelion - The Proud. The Brave. Tau Gamma Phi - Triskelions Grand Fraternity. [online] Thomasian Triskelion - The Proud. The Brave. Tau Gamma Phi - Triskelions Grand Fraternity. Available at: http://www.thomasiantriskelion.org/2008/06/05/abet-75-newly-ordained-deacon/ [Accessed 11 December. 2013].

  • Deo Viloria ~ Heritage Art Center

Heritageartcenter.com Deo Viloria ~ Heritage Art Center In-text: (Heritageartcenter.com, 2014) Bibliography: Heritageartcenter.com, (2014). Deo Viloria ~ Heritage Art Center. [online] Available at: http://www.heritageartcenter.com/2011/01/deo-viloria.html [Accessed 18 February. 2014].

  • Gatdula, L. S.

Showbiz Tidbits: Abstract Painter, Wholesome Actor In-text: (Gatdula, 2000) Bibliography: Gatdula, L. (2000). Showbiz Tidbits: Abstract Painter, Wholesome Actor. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p.33.

  • Bautista, G. A.

BF Gallery-Studio Renov / BautistaFam Reunion-Sept '12 In-text: (Bautista, 2013) Bibliography: Bautista, G. (2013). BF Gallery-Studio Renov / BautistaFam Reunion-Sept '12. [online] Glenn's CyberArtPages. Available at: http://glenlorndav.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/glenlorndave-bf-homes-gallery-studio-renovation-sept-2012/ [Accessed 1 Jul. 2014].

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