It is with sadness, and a deep sense of national loss, that we offer condolences – from the Leader, members of the Central Executive Committee and the general membership of our Party – to the surviving son, Philip Moore, Jr, daughter, Ms. Corine Munroe, elderly sister, grandchildren, great grand children, relatives and many friends, on the passing of that “ancient spirit in a modern body”, Philip Alphonso Moore, C.C.H.
Philip Moore, born on the 12th October 1921 in the Corentyne village of Manchester, departed this world from his earthly home at Lancaster Village, Corentyne, Berbice, at 04:30 hrs on Mother’s Day, 13th May 2012, aged 90 years.
This internationally celebrated artist and sculptor, who considered himself as “spirit taught”, based on his dream, in 1955, that, “a large hand reached down to him from heaven and a voice commanded him to begin his career as an artist”, has left present and future generations of Guyanese with a wider and more profound understanding of art and the artist. He literally utilized everything around him to create his artworks and was, without doubt, one of our most versatile and prolific artists.
Philip Moore’s most famous national sculptural contribution is the landmark 1763 Monument, known familiarly to all Guyanese as the “Cuffy Monument”, which dominates the Square of the Revolution, in our capitol city, Georgetown, and was unveiled on 23rd May1976 to mark the 10th Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence. He was a committed Guyanese who wanted his major works to remain in Guyana to form the core of our National Art Gallery collection.
A humble and deeply spiritual man, he achieved, through the excellence of his artistic contributions, the positions of resident tutor at the Guyana’s Burrowes School of Art and a visiting Professor at Princeton University in the USA. He was also a poet and musician.
May his ancient soul be united with the souls of his African ancestors and rest in eternal peace.
