One of the functions of great art is to fill a certain void whatever gaping emptiness or yawning abyss it is. And there is a Bicolano word that means exactly that: Kanigoan (translation: fill the void).
Most people think of art as all-glam and a wellspring of riches, its operators luxuriating in a court of money, awards and an adoring public. Nothing could be further from the truth. Art is laborious, punishing, and demands much sacrifice from those who are inspired to put paint on canvas or shape wood, clay or marble into eloquent forms. Hard work alone does not guarantee success in the art world; there are many, many factors that figure into establishing an art career: luck, timing, inspiration, and support from patrons and the community, among others. But it starts with the desire to put one’s back into the entire process and to share the fruits of labor with loved ones.