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The celebrated artist tells us about his recent design for Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s Artist Series
Loved worldwide as bold, limited-edition collectables, the works of toy designer and graffiti artist Juanito Maiquez, more popularly known as Quiccs, are inspired by many early-sown fascinations like Mecha robots, hip-hop, and the electrifying culture around street art. “My brand and style is an embodiment of all of my passions rolled into one,” he describes his established signature, one that has set him apart in the vast art world today.
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It comes as no surprise that Quiccs continues to push the envelope for other up-and-coming graffiti artists in the country. “The industry is extremely stacked with talent and skill, and a lot of young artists are showing themselves,” he shares of the promising subculture, a once-underground movement that has steadily increased in popularity and prevalence thanks to distinguished names in the field. “Compared to other countries around Southeast Asia, I believe our graffiti scene can progress better if the organisation and sense of community are stronger.”
Likewise serving as a beacon of this buzzing domain, Quiccs has partnered with a number of notable brands that have made his art accessible to a wider and global audience. The latest on the list is Johnnie Walker Blue Label, with which the visionary has designed an array of bottles for its long-celebrated Artist Series.
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“Whisky helps remind me to appreciate the work I've put into my art. For me, it is a great way to unwind after a long run of grinding and hustling, a way to celebrate any of the victories and accomplishments we keep close to our hearts,” Quiccs remarks. Likewise, when it comes to any and every occasion, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label's depth of flavour remains his standout choice.
See also: On The Parallels of Art and Whisky: Raul Francisco of Provenance Art Gallery Speaks Out
The undeniable highlight of Quiccs’s work on the prized whisky bottle is his alter ego character TEQ63, which represents the many subcultures that he has grown devoted to his entire life. “‘Keep Grinding’ was our motto coming into the collaboration as our own take on Johnnie Walker’s tagline, ‘Keep Walking’,” he expounds. “The Quiccs brand has been on a decade-long journey, and through these first ten years, TEQ63 has carried us along the way throughout our daily grind.”
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The new designs also feature the fan-favourite colours of avid Quiccs collectors over the years, such as The Manila Killa, the Dragon, and OG Blue. Maiquez also celebrates the newly found partnership with the renowned whisky brand by incorporating a special, new colourway: the “Keep Grinding” TEQ63.
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Known for its remarkable depth of flavour, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label is likewise a momentous and fitting match for an inspiring creative like Quiccs. With the collaboration sure to be a collectable among enthusiasts of whisky, art, and profound invention, he only continues to be a voice for Filipino artists and puts them on the map.
“Still water runs deep,” he finally muses, describing a person of depth as “someone who isn’t loud and out there all the time, but moves other people to be better versions of themselves.” His desire to inspire fellow artists is deeply similar. He says, “I wish to show them that artists don’t need to follow the typical path that contemporary artists take to make a living out of art. Nowadays, through social media and networking, the world is your canvas.”
Each limited-edition bottle is exclusively available for purchase with the respective merchants:
Manila Killa Design - S&R
Dragon Design and Original Blue Design - Secret Fresh
Lightning Design - exclusive online through Sugbo Wine and SingleMalt.ph
For more information and updates, check out @JohnnieWalkerPhilippines on Facebook and @johnniewalkerph on Instagram. Drink Responsibly.
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Credits
Photography: Raph Hidalgo
Grooming: Johnson Estrella
Location: Secret Fresh Gallery, Ronac Art Center
Production: Dorynna Untivero, Bianca Simeon, Jon Hipe
Topics
Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.
