Updated: March 10, 2023, 8 A.M.
Fort. St. John, B.C.
Pinay sculptor continues family legacy in Canada
Charmaine Y. Rodriguez and Teodoro Alcuitas
The daughter of a well-known Philippine artist continues her family’s legacy as an artist and sculptor. Ovvian Castrillo-Hill,a mother of one who works and lives in the City of Fort St. John ( 757 miles north of Vancouver along the Alaska Hwy.) has been doing her art since settling in this northern city in 2011.
Her father, Eduardo Castrillo, is a well-known Philippine artist whose works are found all over the world. His most known is the EDSA Revolution Monument in the Philippines,commemorating the 1986 People Power Revolution which toppled the 14-year reign of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Marcos’ son, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Jr. is currently the president of the country. He was commissioned by all administrations including President Cory Aquino.
The 51-year old is not only an accomplished artist in her own right but also a committed community advocate in the Peace Region where she heads the NP Filcan Bayanihan Fort St. John organization,
She is also an emerging filmmaker having just finished her documentary series, titled Ex-Situ: Thriving in Our New Bayan, which has been selected for the Telus Storyhive 2021 Voices program. The film explores the challenges and successes of members of the Filipino diaspora in B.C.’s Peace region. She is now working on a second episode of the film.
Her body of works in sculpture were featured in the solo exhibit “1 Woman here & there,” which ran from February 18 to March 4, 2023 at the Imahica Art Gallery in Mandaluyong City, Philippines. Castrillo-Hill’s work can be found in Manila, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Canada.
“Each work gives a peek into the artist’s personal experiences that have made her strong and resilient as a daughter, a mother, a wife and a woman”, states the gallery.
Her creativity is her genes with not only her father Eduardo, but two brothers as well – Mierro and Nixxio, all in the arts.The family’s works were recently exhibited at the Museo Orlina in Tagaytay City, Cavite.
Trained as a designer
Graduating from the University of the Philippines, Dillimna as a designer, she honed her talents as a design/art writer and consultant. She began sculpting in 2003 under the tutelage of her dad, Eduardo. Since her third show in 2009, she took a break to become a wife and mother, while expressing her art through a multitude of commissioned work. resuming her studio work in 2016.
In 2016, she resumed her studio work preparing for shows and projects, lined up to 2019.
“Employing familiar materials, she repurposes metals and alters finishes —making for her a distinct Ovvian Castrillo proficiency in her art, while undeniably rooted in her sensei’s influence. Each sculpture is personal to her, with a story prodded by emotions culled from her continues evolution as a daughter, a mother, a wife and a woman.”
Her clients and collectors include Ayala Land, Shangri-La Properties, Enterprise Center, One Lagaspi Place, Serendra, Philippine Airlines, Globe Telecoms, St. Scholastica’s College, L’Oreal Philippines, Rock Ed Philippines, CocoLife, The Philippine Open, The Philippine Stock Exchange, The Shang Salcedo Place, as well a multitude of private homes and offices.
“My message for Women on Woman’s Day is: we are all entitled to be here. Revel in the knowledge that you have the privilege of being your true self.”
She came to Canada in 2009 and went back to the Philippines with her husband Bryan and lived there until 2011 when they came back to Canada in 2011 and settled in Fort. St. John with thir only son Brendan.
