Igorot artist uses solar power to draw

Almost exactly three years ago, my wife and I first laid eyes on Jordan Mang-osan's unique pieces of art. We were in Baguio at that time and we decided to drop by at Tam-awan Village to see his exhibit. We were captivated by the Filipino artist's pyrography and solar drawings, and marveled at his skill with the hand lens.

While most artists use canvas, paint, pencil, oil, charcoal or ink to create art, Jordan harnesses the power of the sun to produce portraits that depict the rich cultural traditions and landscape of the Cordilleras, where he is from. To create a piece, he starts off by sketching a design on the surface of a wooden board. He then uses a simple magnifying glass to concentrate solar heat on selected areas of the wood. Check out the video below to see exactly how it's done:

Jordan started drawing as a hobby in grade school. Before he turned 19, the Igorot artist earned a living as a construction worker. He was lost and confused as to what he really wanted to be, until someone saw his potential.

If you happen to be in Baguio and you find yourself in need of an art fix, head straight for Tam-awan Village, where Jordan's creations are on display. Just recently, the artist taught young South Korean students to draw using the power of the sun during his workshop on solar drawing at the village.

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