Culture
Unang Sulyap: The First
Philippine Artsfest in Hong Kong
For the longest time
there have been efforts to harness the creative energy of Filipinos in
Hong Kong
and direct it toward the establishment of solid cultural identity; but
it’s only now that this is being realized. Through the collective efforts
of a team of Filipino visual artists, writers, art enthusiasts and
community leaders, this June 2006 will witness the first Philippine Arts
Festival in
Hong Kong.
BY INA ALLECO R.
SILVERIO
Contributed to Bulatlat
Filipinos have a long
and rich tradition of artistic expression, and every chance they get
Pinoys expose their cultural side through song and dance, theatrical
performance and visual art. Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are known for
their lively and colorful programs and gatherings during Sundays at Chater
Road and Chater
Garden where they hold videoke marathons
and even dance competitions. There are also known professional Filipino
painters who hold one-man shows in established galleries, and graphic
artists who lead creative teams in the most reputable advertising firms in
the territory.
For the longest time
there have been efforts to harness all this creative energy and direct it
towards the establishment of solid cultural identity; but it’s only now
that this is being realized.
Through the
collective efforts of a team of Filipino visual artists, writers, art
enthusiasts and community leaders, this June 2006 will witness the first
Philippine Arts Festival in Hong Kong.
First Glimpse of
Philippine Art
Unang Sulyap/First
Glimpse is the spare yet elegant title of this ambitious yet sincere
endeavor.
Festival organizer
and South China Morning Post international business editor Rex
Aguado said that it’s long overdue that Filipinos make their indelible
mark on the art scene.
“Filipinos have been
coming to Hong Kong for 20 years. Some of our best musicians work here,
and so many visual artists. We also have dance and theater artists in both
the major and minor theater companies. We thought that the time is ripe to
put together a comprehensive campaign to showcase Filipino art and
talent,” he said.
From an outsider’s
point of view, organizing a cultural event involving artists from diverse
political and cultural backgrounds is no mean feat.
“I was aware of that
from the very beginning. Reflection ang differences na ito ng
mga nangyayari din sa bansa natin (These differences also reflect
what is happening in our country). We Filipinos carry our own political
views with us everywhere, and this translates in how we create or view
art. This festival, however, aims to be a wide, democratic space.
Kumbaga, create your art, inject it with what you believe in, and
share it with others. What’s important is that we unite and help project
our culture and our art and give people from other nationalities the
chance to appreciate what we are capable of showing the world,” he
explained.
The artists
themselves concur. In a no-holds barred discussion, the professional
painters and graphic artists participating in the festival share their
views on why it’s taken so long for an activity of this scope to take
place.
“Meron
naman talagang effort, pero di lang coordinated. Hiwa-hiwalay kami, pa-isa-isa
ang mga show. Nasa lungga kasi lahat. Ngayon,
sana magtuloy-tuloy na ito
(There is in fact effort, but it is not coordinated. It’s because the
artists work separately, preferring to hold one-man shows. They’re all
holed up. I hope this continues). We want to show that Filipino artists in
Hong Kong are united. We want to establish a strong art community para na
rin sa mga kapwa Pilipino natin (for our fellow Filipinos),” said Joel
Ferraris.
“While it is true
that between the artists, there are differences in principles and opinions
on, say, art issues, or the message contained in art, or the purpose of
art, merong paggalang sa isa’t-isa (there’s respect for one
another). At this point, ang mahalaga (what is important) is we
unite behind this single creative effort.”
A shoestring
budget
Is
money a serious concern? After all, putting together a festival requires
resources. Art materials, frames, venue rent and invitations can be
expected to tally up to some large amount.
“E lagi namang
problema ‘yan ng mga artists” (That’s always a problem for artists),
Bobit Segismundo said. “Kaya nga madalas yung effort sa mga exhibitions
napupunta sa pagbebenta, (That’s why most of the efforts put into
exhibitions goes into selling of artworks), making the shows more of a
commercial venture than an expressive outpouring ng (of the)artist.
This time, naka-focus kami talaga sa sining. Maganda ang
presentation, highly credible ang works of art, at united ang artist
community” (This time, we are really focused on art. The presentation is
fine, the works of art are credible, and the artist community is united).
Aguado clarified that
they’re not operating on a shoestring budget. “Actually, it’s even less
than a shoestring. We’re mostly banking on the personal resources of the
participating artists and the financial support of members of the Filipino
community.”
This why, Aguado
said, they’re very grateful to all the assistance being given by the
Philippine Association of Hong Kong (PAHK) because with it’s help, the
festival will also feature an exhibition of Filipino artworks held by
SAR-based collectors, as well as major works on loan from galleries here
and in the Philippines. “PAHK members and other art collectors have been
kind enough to trust us with artworks in the personal collection,” he
said.
Personal and political influence
It’s already been
mentioned that the festival will not have any specific theme, but it’s
nonetheless inevitable that even with the general conceptualization the
participating artists will gravitate towards certain ideas.
“Siyempre yung
influences ng mga artists lalabas sa kanyang works. Yung environment na
ginagalawan, yung personal history, yung mga nakikita at natututunan sa
pang-araw-araw na buhay” (The artists’ influences would naturally come out
in their works. The environment they move in, their personal histories,
the things they see and learn in their everyday lives), said Arnel Agawin.
Agawin said that
among the participating artists, there are evident motifs or themes
arising.
“Meron sa amin
socially aware yung pinipinta, progressive art ang ginagawa.
Yung iba naman, reflective; mga pananaw tungkol sa buhay ng mga
batang Pilipino na lumalaki sa dayuhang environment, may
discrimination, may alienation, nagkakaroon ng image problem
Yung iba naman sa amin, creative expression lang talaga.”
(There are those of us whose paintings are socially aware, whose art is
progressive. There are those who create reflective works, containing
insights on the lives of Filipino children reared in a foreign
environment, with discrimination, with alienation, experiencing an image
problem. Others go for creative expression for its own sake.)
Emilio Rivera is more
definite. A former post-martial law student activist, he said: “Iba-iba
naman talaga ang dahilan ng mga artists pag lumilikha. Okay lang ito. Kung
ako naman ang tatanungin, simple lang – ang lahat ng nililikhang sining
dapat may kahulugan at pinaglalaanan.” (Artists really have different
reasons for creating. This is okay. If you ask me, what I have to say is
simple – all art must have meaning and be dedicated to something.)
Rivera was a graphics
artist for UP Diliman's Philippine Collegian back in his college days. “Ang
sideline namin nun e gumawa ng mga effigy saka streamer para sa mga rally.
Kahit alam namin susunugin, ginagandahan pa rin naming (Our sideline
then was to make effigies and streamers for rallies. Though we knew these
would be burned, we would still put our best efforts into these.) It's
still art, propaganda art, and we create it the best way we can. Yun
nga lang, naiiyak kami (It’s just that we’d break into tears) after
we've seen something we've worked on for weeks burn to ashes.”
Other participating
artists are Tito Cascante, Jun Cambel, Martin Megino, Manuel Rubio, Noel
de Guzman and Ben Guia.
A tribute to the indomitableFilipino
spirit
Besides the painters,
the arts fest will also feature the works of Filipino photo-journalists
and theatre people.
As the description in
the website explains, the exhibit titled 20/20: People Power in the
Philippines will feature photographic testimonies documenting “the social,
political, cultural and economic shifts in the country since the 1986
People Power Revolution. …Ultimately, the show pays homage to the
indomitable spirit of the Filipino people.”
Among the photographs
to be featured are those by veteran photo-journalist and now Hong Kong
News staffer Dante Peralta. His photos document the infamous 1987 Mendiola
Massacre where 13 farmers from Central Luzon were gunned down during a
rally calling for the Aquino government to implement genuine agrarian
reform. He has also contributed literally revolutionary Madonna and Child
photos: the mother a New People's Army (NPA) cadre carrying a sleeping
infant.
Other participating
photographers are Edgar Tapang of the Hong Kong Tatler, Ted Aljibe of
the Agence France Presse, Boy Cabrido of the Philippine Daily Inquirer,
Bullet Marquez of Associated Press; Edwin Tuyay and Albert Garcia, both of
the Manila Times.
Acting teacher and
theater stalwart Armida Azada, meanwhile, will directs two short plays
wherein her students from the Hong Kong campus of the Philippine Women’s
University will perform. They have chosen ‘Short Time’, by Palanca-awardee
Dean Francis Alfar, and Azada’s own ‘Connection.’ They will also conduct a
reading performance of Filipino poetry written in Hong Kong.
Finally, in the hopes
of also drawing in the participation of OFWs, there will also be an
amateur painting competition and an on-the-spot painting contest. “We want
to help discover budding artists in the community.
The on-the-spot
contest carries the apt theme ‘Day Off’ “This is open to the children of
OFWs, and their wards here in Hong Kong,” said Aguado. “The painting
competition, meanwhile, is open to OFWS.”
Festival organizers
are keeping their fingers and even their toes crossed that this year’s
campaign will not be a flash and burn thing. “We want to make sure that we
can sustain this effort, and expand the festival to feature other
disciplines such as film and dance. Now is the time for Filipinos in Hong
Kong to come together. Let’s put
our put our artistic efforts together, organize them, establish our
identity as Filipinos, and project it to the world at large,” he
concluded. Bulatlat
PHILIPPINE ARTS
FESTIVAL
Hong Kong 2006
UNANG SULYAP / FIRST
GLIMPSE
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Filipino Artists in Hong Kong painting exhibition
1-30 June 2006
Philippine Consulate
General
14th Floor, United
Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Sunday to Thursday: 9am
to 4pm
.
20/20 : People Power in
the Philippines 20 Years After photo exhibit
6-17 June 2006
Fotogalerie, 2/F Fringe
Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong
Monday to Saturday: 12
noon to 10pm
Unang Sulyap/First
Glimpse: A Survey of Philippine Artworks in Hong Kong
22-27 June 2006
Hong Kong Central
Library
66 Causeway Road,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Monday to Sunday: 10am
to 9pm
Tactile Mind: The Latest Works of Noel de Guzman
13-27 June 2006
Philippine-based artist
known for his finger-painted works holds so exhibit.
Karin Weber Gallery
Ground Floor, 20
Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong
Monday to Saturday:
11am to 7pm / Sunday: 1pm to 6pm
Website:
www.karinwebergallery.com
Living Art: On-The-Spot Painting Contest and Amateur Painting
Competition
18 June 2006
Jointly sponsored with
the Philippine Association of Hong Kong and the Philippine
Consulate. Winners will receive special prizes, plus the honour of
being exhibited at the Central Library visual arts exhibition on
22-27 June.
Chater Garden,
Central. For details, call +852 9072 5253 or visit
http://artfest.filipinoart.net
Two
Filipino Artists at Osage Gallery: Pardo de Leon and Popo San
Pascual
1-28 June 2006
An
allied event organised by Osage Gallery, this exhibition introduces
to Hong Kong the creations of two of the most innovative young
Filipino artists working in the Philippines today.
The paintings will subsequently travel to the Chinese capital, to be
shown at Osage Beijing at the Chaoyang Wine Factory in July.
The gallery, through the Osage Art Foundation, will also show the
works of contemporary Filipino artist Charlie Co and Philippine
master Fernando Amorsolo at its Osage Gallery Loft in Kwun Tong from
June 13.
Osage Gallery City
Lower Ground Shop 1, 45 Caine Road, Corner Old Bailey Street, Soho,
Central.
Monday to Saturday: 11am to 7pm / Sunday: 1pm to 6pm. Check
www.osagegallery.com |
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