Cover Margaux Blas' 'Goodbye to All That' (Photo: Mono 8 Gallery)
Margaux Blas' 'Goodbye to All That' (Photo: Mono 8 Gallery)
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Exceptional talents go beyond the walls of art galleries in Metro Manila. In this write-up, Tatler features names of artists hailing from far-flung places in Visayas and Mindanao
The Filipino arts and culture scene has often been criticised as being overly centered on Metro Manila and Luzon. This is why this year, Art Fair PH had its eyes set on one daring goal—to provide a bigger platform for talented artists around far-flung places in Visayas and Mindanao.
It has set up regional galleries and online conferences where people can learn more about the contemporary works of passionate individuals like Rosa Zerrudo, Angela Silva, and more.
See also: Art Fair PH 2022: Artists and Participating Galleries
In this write-up, Tatler lists the names of the country's biggest featured regional artists in this year's Art Fair:
VISAYAS
Rosa Zerrudo
Above Visayan artist Rosa Zerrudo is from Lambunao and Anilao, Iloilo province, in the island of Panay
Visayan artist Rosa Zerrudo is from Lambunao and Anilao, Iloilo province, in the island of Panay
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Multidisciplinary teaching artist, multimedia poet, and cultural worker Rosalie “Rosa” Abeto Zerrudo has dedicated much of her life to working with underprivileged communities and women in the Philippines. Her works revolve around Filipino traditions, rituals, and diverse processes through contextual exchange and cultural interventions.
Among her most notable projects was the "Palangga Prison Art Project: Triple Lockdown Showdown," an online workshop undertaken by her fellow female artists for more than 100 women inmates of the Iloilo City District Jail-Female Dormitory, which is managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP-Region 6).
The online conference, which has received funding from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), was an evolution of her earlier “Hilway Art: Freedom in Prison Project.”
In case you missed it: Art Fair Philippines Goes Hybrid This 2022! Read On to Know More
Angela Silva
Above Artist Angela Silva wearing striped white and black blouse
Artist Angela Silva wearing striped white and black blouse
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Angela Silva is an artist known for her ability to haul, invent, and reinvent historical narratives, associations, representations, and nuances, embedded in both image-making and meaning-making in the traditions of photography. Before retiring to the Philippines, Silva had the chance to teach the art of image transferring and portrait collage making to budding creatives at the San Francisco Bay Area.
Most of her works explore identity, memory, time, and place to create a series of nuance and deeper meaning. Silva has mastered the art of printmaking, mixed-media collage, and image transfers that convey "antiquarian sensibilities."
Besides being a good printmaking creative, Silva is also a cyanotype artist. For starters, this type of media is one of the simplest alternative photographic processes; it uses camera-less photography to produce mesmerising monochromatic blue images.
Aina Shane Martinez
Above Aina Shane Martinez of Capiz in Western Visayas
Aina Shane Martinez of Capiz in Western Visayas
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Aina Shane Martinez is a young illustrator and muralist based in Roxas City in Capiz Province. Among her most remarkable project is the mural art she and her band of young artists volunteered for when Iloilo's local government unit (LGU) sought to turn the area's otherwise dull and plain walls to art spaces.
Their group alongside artists from Capiz, Araut Visual Artists Collective of Dumangas, Gamot Cogon Waldorf School, and University of San Agustin (USA) were headed by renowned Filipino Asian Modern & Contemporary painter Rock Drilon in upgrading the walls into meaningful murals.
Margaux Blas
Margaux Blas of Iloilo
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Fashion Design and Merchandising graduate Margaux Blas is an artist who resides in Iloilo. Her works revolve around the exploration of the female body while using mixed media techniques, neo-ethnic patterns, natural textures, and oriental architecture.
“My beliefs saved me from becoming insane and depressed during this time of the pandemic. I haven't touched my paintbrushes and canvases for the longest time, not just because I didn't feel like it but because I just felt like I had to rest and pause. But in the end, I turned to nature. That was my only hope," she explained in an interview.
More from Tatler: Tailor-Fit Art: Fashion Designer Ehrran Montoya Slowly Conquers the Local Fashion Scene
MINDANAO
Cris Rollo
Above Artist Cris Rollo
Artist Cris Rollo
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Visual artist, curator, and writer Cris Rollo is currently the Philippines country programme manager of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). He was a member of the panel of consulting experts for the Philippine Heritage Charter for Heritage Sites and Spaces and their Associate Environments, the deputy director for Programs of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (2005-2006), the national chairman of the Committee on Visual Arts of the National Commission for Culture (2000 to 2006), and a member of the NCCA National Advisory Board.
His background as a development worker, made him put the lessons and experiences he had at work into his craft.
Abraham "Abe" Garcia Jr.
Above Artist Abe Garcia is from Mindanao
Artist Abe Garcia is from Mindanao
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Davao-based Abraham "Abe" Garcia Jr.is a practicing artist, art educator, and organiser of art projects and performing curatorial tasks on recent art practices in Mindanao. As of this writing, Garcia is a doctoral researcher at the prestigious Queensland College of Art (Griffith University) in Australia.
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Bing Cariño
Above Bing Carino is an artist from Mindanao
Bing Carino is an artist from Mindanao
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Bing Cariño is a visual artist theatre director, interior designer, and cultural educator and curator. He has garnered his degree in Interior Design from the University of the Philippines (UP) and his currently completing his Graduate degree in Culture and Art Studies at Mindanao State University in Iligan. He was a three-term Executive Committee member of two committees in the NCCA; one term with NC Visual Arts and two with NC Cultural Education.
Cariño enjoys being an independent curator, he has so far contributed in museum at the southern part of the country such as Lawig-Diwa. As of this post, the artist is a Cultural Officer at the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges both in Koronadal and General Santos City.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
