Santiago Bose

Santiago Bose (1949-2002) was a mixed-media artist, educator, community organizer and art theorist from Baguio City, Philippines. As co-founder of the Baguio Arts Guild, he pioneered the use of indigenous materials in contemporary art. His work incorporated materials like bamboo, found objects, and volcanic ash to create influential assemblages that championed indigenous cultures, particularly from his home region of the Cordilleras. His practice was marked by deep criticality while maintaining humor and wit, focusing on folk consciousness, religiosity, and traditional cultures' resilience against foreign influences.