EDUARDO MUTUC'S ARTWORKS
Eduardo Mutuc is reviving the Spanish colonial-era craft of 'Plateria' or 'Pukpuk'. It is a meticulous embossing method that flourished during the Spanish colonial times. Mutuc sculpts his detailed artworks like retablos, mirrors, altars, and 'carosas' from silver, bronze, and wood. Some of his works can exceed 40 feet.
The process of 'pukpok' entails carving a design on a piece of wood, over which Eduardo adds a metal sheet. He then proceeds to emboss the design by pounding the metal gently using a mallet and an old rubber slipper. Afterward, he dips the solid metal sheet in molten silver. He then proceeds to do more hammering and polishing to bring out the details of the piece.
He became an apprentice to furniture carvers. After five years of working, a colleague taught him silver plating which is used in making gold and silver leaves and notes that handmade pieces are finer and more delicate than machine pressed pieces, particularly when commissioned pieces involve human representations. His cherubim are engaging creatures, whose strikingly lifelike quality comes through the silver-plate.
Mutuc’s works are more than merely decorative. They add character and splendor to their setting. His spectacular shiny retablos that decorate an apse or chapel provide a focus for contemplation and devotion while the faithful commune with the Divine in regular church celebrations.