Footwear as art form

THERE are high-heeled boots, classic stiletto shoes, low-heeled office wears, rugged sandals and trendy flip-flops. There are quirky designs, such as a pair with holes all over, or one with eyes and nose, like a snake’s. Some are slim and pointy, some are bulky and clunky.

But none of the 184 pairs of shoes could be worn by anyone, although they could attract those seeking footwear-turned-president-seeking-missiles — much like the pair launched recently by an irate Iraqi journalist against U.S. President George W. Bush. All made of wood, including gemelina,acacia, santol, and madre de cacao, the shoes could surely give anyone a serious concussion if they were used as weapons, airborne or otherwise.

[Photos by Rowena Carranza-Paraan]

Fortunately for Bush, German artist Hans Angerer has more benign plans for the shoes, which were crafted by Ifugao woodcarvers. Angerer is currently presenting the wooden footwear collection as “Saka Saka” (literally, barefoot in Cordillera language) at the Victor Oteyza Community Arts Space (Vocas) on Session Road, Baguio City, with Goethe-Institut Manila as sponsor.

According to Angerer, he was inspired by the famous shoe collection of Imelda Marcos, widow of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Dubbed as a “steel butterfly,” Imelda gained notoriety for, among others, her thousands of pairs of shoes.

Through the exhibit, Angerer and the woodcarvers have transformed shoes from utilitarian items to art. While inspired by the former First Lady’s proclivity for shoes, the exhibit highlights the Cordillera woodcraft tradition and the Ifugao carvers’ dexterous creativity.

The installation itself cleverly depicts Philippine society: while there were some modern, obviously trendy types, majority were of modest designs, some even looking tired and well-worn.

So far, there are no indications that the shoes are headed next for Iraq or the United States.