Roberto Chabet facts for kids

Roberto "Bobby" Rodríguez Chabet (born March 29, 1937 – died April 30, 2013) was a famous artist from the Philippines. Many people call him the "father of Philippine conceptual art". Conceptual art is a type of art where the idea or concept behind the artwork is more important than the finished art piece itself.

Bobby Chabet's Life and Art

Early Life and Education

Bobby Chabet was born in Manila, Philippines. He studied architecture at the University of Santo Tomas. He finished his studies in 1961. In the same year, he had his very first art show at the Luz Gallery.

A Leader in Philippine Art

Chabet became the first museum director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He worked there as a curator from 1967 to 1970. He started the "13 Artists Awards." This award helped recognize young artists. It celebrated artists who created new and exciting art. Their works were different from older art styles.

In the 1970s, Chabet led an art group called Shop 6. He also taught art for over 30 years. He taught at the UP College of Fine Arts. He believed that the idea behind art was most important. He often organized art shows for young artists.

What His Art Means

Chabet called his artworks "creatures of memory." He saw himself as their "custodian," or caretaker. His art explored new ways of thinking about art and its meaning. His drawings, collages, sculptures, and installations often questioned modern ideas. His works made people think about space. They also showed how everyday objects change when moved.

Bobby Chabet was a very creative artist. He worked in many different fields. He did architecture, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. He also designed stages, taught, took photos, and wrote.

Exhibitions and Collections

Chabet had six solo art shows at The Luz Gallery starting in 1961. He also took part in many group shows in the Philippines. His artworks are kept in important places. These include the National Museum and the Ateneo Art Gallery. The Cultural Center of the Philippines also has his art. Many private collectors own his pieces too.

In May 2004, Galleria Duemila showed some of Chabet's early drawings. This exhibition was called "Selected Chabet Drawings 60s-70s."

Awards and Recognition

Bobby Chabet received several important awards for his art. In 1972, he got the Republic Cultural Heritage Award. He also received the Araw ng Maynila Award for the Visual Arts in 1972. In 1998, he was given the Centennial Honor for the Arts.

His Final Years

Bobby Chabet passed away on April 30, 2013. He was 76 years old. He died at the UERM Hospital in Santa Mesa, Manila. His family said he was taken to the hospital because of a fever. He had two heart attacks and died from the second one.

Chabet was not married and did not have children. He is survived by his older sister, Carmen Mesina, and his younger sister, Milagros Garcia.