Kid painter Hamzah Marbella dreams of National Artist recognition

Hamzah Marbella, 12, wants to be named National Artist when he grows up.

It's a big dream for someone who's not yet even in his teens, but Hamzah is no ordinary child — when he was 9, he led an exhibition composed of Filipino and Chinese children in China. Four years prior, his painting, Bounty, reportedly sold for HK$60,000 (almost Php 335,000 in today's foreign exchange) in an auction in Hong Kong.

"Sikat po kasi yung mga National Artist sa ibang bansa," says the soft-spoken Hamzah, who has received around 50 local and international citations and awards for his works.

His colorful paintings, most of which feature huge fish, cats, and ladies with rainbow hair, have been featured in galleries alongside those of national artists.

"Tuwing umaga po kasi sa amin (in Cavite), may nagtitinda ng isda," says the youngest member of Art Association of the Philippines. "Yung pusa, kinukuha po yung isda pag kakain kami."

The eldest of seven siblings and now endorser of milk brand Promil Pre-school, Hamzah already helps his family through his paintings.

"Dito lang tayo makakaahon sa kahirapan," Hamzah's mom, Elma, recalls telling her son.

Elma remembers a time when she had to borrow money so Hamzah could join a contest in Manila.

"Anak, dapat manalo ka, para makakain tayo sa fastfood," she remembers telling her son. Hamzah won first place in that contest and received P5,000.

"Minsan kapag sasali si Hamzah sa contest, may nagsasabi na huwag na siyang sumali, kasi pro (professional) na daw siya," says Elma.

These days, Hamzah's paintings fetch for five figures in various galleries.

It was Hamzah's father, Renato, who discovered Hamzah's artistic talent when his son was only a year old.

"Noong hindi pa siya marunong humawak ng lapis, pinagsasama-sama niya yung mga bato, ipit ng damit, tapos nagagawa niyang mukhang tao, halaman, tao, insekto," Renato tells GMA News Online. "Pagdating niya ng 2 years old, pinahawakan namin ng lapis at binigyan ng sketchpad, doon na nagsimula."
Hamzah would watch his father as he painted, says Renato. "Kahit sa dingding, nagdo-drawing siya."

Then Hamzah moved from pencil to pastel, from sketchpad to plywood.

Former Promil Kid CJ de Silva had a similar beginning as Hamzah, having her first brush with art through her father. Late in October, she joined her successor in an event in Taguig.

"I hope other kids who paint/draw and join art contests could see Hamzah's works," says de Silva. "Kasi the art style of the kids who have been trained to join contests — they just have the same style. Kahit noong panahon ko pa, it was the same style — cartoonish, hand with a globe, etc."

Hamzah's works, she notes, "offers a fresher look" on what young artists can do.

"The most important thing, achievement, Hamzah gave us, especially to the country, is that he had exhibits abroad," says de Silva. "In a way, he represented the young art scene. And through him, marerevive yung passion for the arts."

Related: The grown-up palette of CJ de Silva.

Asked on what his favorite work was, Hamzah points to the painting at the corner: three cats, with five giant fish for themselves. "Mukha kasi silang masaya, marami silang isda."

For adults, Hamzah is remarkable for his works' accolades. But for the kid, he is just happy to paint, just as how his paintings' subjects are perpetually smiling. — KBK, GMA News