Hernando R. Ocampo: The Reluctant Visionary Who Rewrote Philippine Abstraction

TNA Blog
Jul 14
2 min read

Updated: Jul 16

Man sitting indoors with an abstract painting behind him, in black and white. Text reads "Hernando R. Ocampo, Patina Journal" on a teal background.

Hernando R. Ocampo: Self-Taught. Self-Made. Still Relevant.

Before the gallery shows and art history textbooks, Hernando R. Ocampo was just a man with a brush, a stack of magazines, and a hunger to figure it out.

He didn’t go to art school. He didn’t have formal training. He just started. Like so many of us, creatives who come up teaching ourselves what no one else did; Ocampo built his craft through instinct, repetition, and relentless experimentation. His early work was clearly influenced by the greats, Fernando Amorsolo most notably; but what made Ocampo stand out wasn’t how well he mimicked... it was how quickly he moved past it.

H.R. Ocampo biomorphic abstraction in green and yellow, signed June 12, 1976 — Biomorphic abstraction in green and yellow by H.R. Ocampo, June 12, 1976.

Influence is Inevitable. Style is Earned.

There’s a moment in every creative’s journey when imitation becomes transformation. You start off learning from the outside in, replicating what you love. But eventually, the work becomes yours.

Ocampo’s early paintings had charm and warmth, but lacked the polish of academia, because he didn’t have one. He learned by looking. Watching. Creating. His early canvases weren’t perfect. But they were honest. And honest evolves.

As his practice deepened, his style shifted. He stepped into social realism, exploring labor, land, and life in the Philippines. Then came the break: abstraction. Geometry. Color. Movement. Form. Ocampo wasn’t copying anymore. He was creating something that hadn’t existed yet.

This Is What It Means to Be Self-Taught

Matanggul Asa aptly remarked, "Victorio C. Edades opened the doors of modern art in the Philippines, Hernando R. Ocampo walked right in." A self-taught artist who never ventured abroad, foreign admirers lauded Ocampo's abstract pieces for their unparalleled originality, describing them as unmistakably Filipino due to his distinctive tropical color sense. In these abstract compositions, shapes, lines, and colors engage in a dynamic tension, transcending recognizable subjects. Ocampo's art communicates the interplay between elements, inviting viewers to experience the essence of his unique visual language.

At the peak of his career, National Artist H.R. Ocampo created paintings with bold, unique forms, demonstrating his skill in creative deconstruction – a process of breaking down traditional elements, but always with purposeful composition. In works such as "Democratic Friendship," the juxtaposition of solid red, white, and black biomorphic shapes symbolizes the intricate dance of diplomacy, where contrasting forces find harmony amidst complexity. The vibrant red suggests passion, white infers the dove of peace, while the deep black conveys depth and mystery, mirroring the nuanced negotiations inherent in diplomatic relations. Through his masterful use of color and form, Ocampo captures the essence of the interactions between nations, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of human connection.

Reference:

Angel G. De Jesus, H.R. Ocampo: The Artist as Filipino, 1980 — H.R. Ocampo (1911 - 1978)

It’s not about doing it alone. It’s about doing it without waiting for permission. Ocampo found his peers — the Thirteen Moderns — and surrounded himself with artists who understood what it meant to build from scratch. Their Saturday gatherings at Taza de Oro weren’t just hangouts. They were labs. Safe spaces for ideas, for growth, for critique. For art without ego.

Thirteen Moderns with thair artwork together. — Thirteen Moderns

And that’s what matters most: Being self-taught isn’t a limitation. It’s an ethos. You build your own curriculum. You earn your own mastery.

It’s what we believe in at TNA. It’s why we exist.

From Self-Taught to Signature

Today, Hernandez R. Ocampo’s bold abstractions are unmistakable. They pulse with rhythm, coded color, and cultural commentary. But behind the legacy is a journey that started with scraps and curiosity.

And if you're an artist, a founder, a designer, a brand builder — you’re on the same path. Learning by doing. Making your own rules. Building your style by living your life. That’s the point of this post. And that’s what Ocampo represents. Not just Filipino modernism — but the power of trusting your creative instinct long before the world catches on.

Abstract biomorphic composition featuring overlapping organic shapes in contrasting tones, evoking movement and depth — Experimental sketch merging technical survey lines with organic forms by H.R. Ocampo.

Being self-taught is the long game. But it’s the real one. Keep building. Keep learning. Keep creating anyway.

Want help defining your style, growing your brand, and building your design language from scratch?That’s why we created Designflow — design on demand for the self-made.

[Learn more →]