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ART PRINTS AVAILABLE: natlamina.art/

Tala, the ancient Philippine goddess of the stars (oil on canvas 24x36in)

In Philippine mythology, Tala is one of the three daughters of Bathala (the supreme god in Philippine mythology) to a mortal woman. She is known to have supported the creation of the Tagalog traditional constellations. Tala carries light sphere or orb to ferry men to safety at night. However, when the Spaniards came, they demonized the light orbs and called them santelmos (Saint Elmo's Fire) in a bid to convert the natives into Christianity. The natives eventually regarded the orbs as deadly beings that kill men or get humans to lose their way. In Filipino language, Tala means "bright star".

The model in this painting is my wife, who happens to have the same name. In some culture, the cutting of hair symbolizes a great change in one's life, growth and new beginning (as it was the period when we got married and start a new life).

In this painting, Tala is wearing a "malong", a traditional Filipino tube-like wrap-around skirt bearing a variety of geometric or okir designs. The malong is traditionally used as a garment by both men and women of the numerous ethnic groups in mainland Mindanao and parts of the Sulu Archipelago. These beautiful patterns native to the Maranao people were traditionally hand-woven, and usually distinctive to a particular ethnic group in Southern Philippines.

She is wielding a dagger called "kris", an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron. This ancient Filipino/Southeastern Asia weapon is famous for its unique wavy blade.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lasarasu/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lasarasu/

Description

ART PRINTS AVAILABLE: natlamina.art/

Tala, the ancient Philippine goddess of the stars (oil on canvas 24x36in)

In Philippine mythology, Tala is one of the three daughters of Bathala (the supreme god in Philippine mythology) to a mortal woman. She is known to have supported the creation of the Tagalog traditional constellations. Tala carries light sphere or orb to ferry men to safety at night. However, when the Spaniards came, they demonized the light orbs and called them santelmos (Saint Elmo's Fire) in a bid to convert the natives into Christianity. The natives eventually regarded the orbs as deadly beings that kill men or get humans to lose their way. In Filipino language, Tala means "bright star".

The model in this painting is my wife, who happens to have the same name. In some culture, the cutting of hair symbolizes a great change in one's life, growth and new beginning (as it was the period when we got married and start a new life).

In this painting, Tala is wearing a "malong", a traditional Filipino tube-like wrap-around skirt bearing a variety of geometric or okir designs. The malong is traditionally used as a garment by both men and women of the numerous ethnic groups in mainland Mindanao and parts of the Sulu Archipelago. These beautiful patterns native to the Maranao people were traditionally hand-woven, and usually distinctive to a particular ethnic group in Southern Philippines.

She is wielding a dagger called "kris", an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron. This ancient Filipino/Southeastern Asia weapon is famous for its unique wavy blade.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lasarasu/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lasarasu/