Bulol
"The bulol terrace gods of the Ifugao people in norther Luzon, Philippines, always served as an inspiration for [me] to fuse Philippine culture into my works. I have taken the basic form and meaning and have been weaving them into my creations for the past 25 years. The idol brings my works a sense of positivity and protection. Historically, the figures are placed in rice terraces to bring plentiful harvest. The bulol figures in this exhibition were built with the coiling technique and fired in a wood and salt reduction atmosphere kiln. The BenCab museum in the Philippines proudly exhibits as part of their permanent collection, 3 of my bulol ceramic sculptures created between 2005 and 2015."
-Hadrian Mendoza (2024)
Click on the images below to view the items in more detail
Bulol I
Creator: Hadrian Mendoza
Date: 2014 Medium: unglazed stoneware clay, wood/salt/soda fired
Dimensions: 40” x 12/5”
View from front in display case
View from right side
View from left side
Right profile
Left profile
Rear view
Closeup view in display case
Bulol II and Yawn
Creator: Hadrian Mendoza
Date: 2021
Medium: unglazed stoneware, clay, wood fired
Dimensions: 21” x 20.5”
Front view in display case
View from right side
Rear view
Creator: Hadrian Mendoza
Date: 2021
Medium: stoneware clay with nuka glaze, wood/salt/soda fired
Dimensions:18.5” x 20”
Rear view in display case
Front view
Bulol III and IV
Creator: Hadrian Mendoza
Date: c. 2021
Medium: stoneware clay with nuka glaze, wood/salt/soda fired
Dimensions: 20.5” x 12”
View from front on display
Creator: Hadrian Mendoza
Date: c. 2017
Medium: stoneware clay with ox blood red glaze, reduction fired
Dimensions:26” x 6”