Carabao Sculpture

Napoleon Abueva (1930 – 2018) was the youngest National Artist awardee for Sculpture. He is considered as the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture. Abueva helped shape the local sculpture scene to what it is now.

Abueva’s marble sculpture “Carabao” portrays a cluster of five (5) stylized water buffaloes resting on each other. Napoleon Abueva’s versatility in both medium and expression eludes facile categorization. Though his original influence was Brancusi, Abueva constantly searched for new forms and modes of expression. Abueva’s first teacher in sculpture was Fidel Araneta, who inculcated in him a love for masses and forms.