Eduardo Sicangco Discusses the Struggle Between Artistic Integrity and the Reality of Budgets
“It’s an ongoing cycle. And I hate that, and, it can’t continue in my book. It cannot continue,” declares Eduardo Sicangco adamantly regarding the Philippine industry practice of slashing artistic budgets for ongoing productions.
“As an artist and as an artist of integrity, and your name’s on it, you’ll kill yourself trying to make [and] get it done for half the amount. And it’s a vicious cycle,” laments the world renowned scenographer when he faced an audience composed of his colleagues, students and friends during the sponsored ‘Conversations with Eduardo Sicangco” at the Ayala Museum on 12 November 2008.
Eduardo Sicangco points out that one’s artistic integrity is compromised when producers are given the mistaken notion that the work can be done for a much reduced amount. “Ang galing! Pwede pala,” the producers would say.
Eduardo Sicangco’s strong response hints as to the reason why he has chosen to base himself in New York for the past three decades. He does reveal one weakness — his sister Cecile Sicangco. He says the only way for him to work with diminishing budgets is if someone can persuade the distinguished ballerina to come out of retirement.
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