The Visayas Art Fair is known for showcasing the works of some of the best Filipino artists in the country.
“I don’t believe in art, I believe in artists.”
Marcel Duchamp
Like any working class individual, artists require support and recognition to continue pursuing their passion. All they need is an avenue to introduce their work to a wider audience.
The Cebu Culture Art and Design, or CCAD (previously known as Cebu Design Week), does this through a yearly art exhibit where Filipino artists from the Visayas region share their artworks and connect with fellow creatives.
This is none other than the Visayas Art Fair.
The three-day event highlights the strong presence of contemporary arts in the Philippines.
The VAF celebrated its fourth year, with the 2024 event held from November 22nd to 24th. After spending its first year at the Montebello Hotel in Banilad, it has been held at Oakridge Business Park since 2022.
CCAD uses the VAF to make Filipino arts a more lucrative industry that could contribute to the country’s economy by highlighting different art styles from the Visayas region.
Cebu has one of the strongest art industries in the country, so this is the perfect avenue for Filipino artists to gain exposure, while arts enthusiasts can enjoy a weekend full of impressive talent.
MOST INTERESTING EXHIBITS AT THE VISAYAS ART FAIR
- The Bearer of Infinite Blessings by James Doran-Webb
First impressions speak volumes, so the VAF starts with the magnificent Bearer of Infinite Blessings. Sculpted by Cebu-based artist James Doran-Webb, this massive structure stood right by the registration area of the art fair.
Weighing 2.5 tons and taking 15,000 hours to complete, the sculpture depicts a dragon carrying the Earth, with water pouring over it. It symbolizes good fortune, strength, and revitalization.
80% of it is made from reused driftwood. James and his team of Filipino artists also used stainless steel for its robust core.
- Danny Rayos Del Sol of Galerie du Soleil – Manila
Galerie du Soleil – Manila showcased the 10th solo exhibit of Danny Rayos Del Sol, the only ostrich egg artist in the Philippines. Danny painstakingly etches intricate images onto the exteriors of ostrich egg shells.
Called “Liwanag sa Dilim”, it enlightens faith and worship with the use of innovative artistic materials. It taps into the Filipinos’ religious practices through Danny’s use of religious imagery.
Some of Danny’s best pieces include one of Jesus Christ, another of Mother Mary, the Last Supper, and an image of the Senior Sto. Niño.
- Honesto Guirela III of 29 Kapitolyo Art Space
Another Manila-based gallery at the VAF showcased not just sculptures, but also paintings of everyday life. But it was the artwork of Honesto Guiruela III that stood out.
Also known as “Estong”, he aims to show the truth of Filipino homes, particularly those from impoverished and low-class communities. He uses scrap materials such as soda cans and plywood to create dioramas of Filipino shanties.
It may seem like poverty porn to some, but his main intention is for viewers to show some sympathy for informal settlers, and hopefully help them in some way.
- Florentino’s Art Gallery
An art fair in Cebu would be incomplete without an exhibit from local art galleries depicting life in the city. This can be seen through the paintings of Florentino’s Art Gallery.
Their exhibit “Over the Years” features work from Jun Impas, Fred Galan, Adeste Deguilmo, and Kimsoy Yap.
Their artworks depict everyday aspects of Cebuano life like riding a tartanilla, going to the Basilica del Sto. Niño, or eating at a Larangan.
Kimsoy Yap’s artworks also stand out for their provocative imagery, as the expert painter shows realistic portraits, including several detailed nude models.
- Baylan of Mt. Kalatungan
The VAF showcased the Talaandig-Manobo community in Bukidnon through the Baylan of Mt. Kalatungan exhibit. This immersive display uses a documentary-style narrative made possible through various types of media.
It tells the story of the indigenous tribe in Northern Mindanao, which has over 100,000 members. They are known for believing in a higher god and the spirits that guard nature, preserving their indigenous customs and practices in modern times.
The exhibit features artwork made by the members of the tribe, as well as photos from Gab Mejia showing their simple lifestyles.
Baradiya was also shown, a film depicting the story of their spiritual descendant Krystahl.
- Lunapanahon: Spacetime by Raymund Fernandez
Through a combination of art and science, Bisaya sculptor Raymund Fernandez’s exhibit is inspired by the unending cycle of time with the use of a simple machine – he calls it Lunapanahon: Spacetime.
During the art fair, Raymund pointed out that his exhibit doubles as a toy or learning apparatus for children to learn more about the science of space time. It combines physical and digital elements for a unique learning experience.
The main highlight was a large dish with marbles that users must move around its concave structure. The movement of the marbles supposedly depicts how time revolves in a circular motion after taking the form of the Earth.
AN ODE TO FILIPINO ARTISTS
A lifestyle piece published in The Philippine Star mentions that the country lacks government-supported venues to actively exhibit or highlight famous contemporary arts in the Philippines. (2018)
It explains that when public museums falter, private art institutions flourish by creating avenues for independent artists to showcase their artworks to the masses.
The same concept is seen clearly through the efforts of the Cebu Art Industry by bringing contemporary arts in the Philippines to the forefront with an event such as the Visayas Art Fair.
This art exhibition is indeed vital to the development of the country’s arts industry, serving as a starting point for Filipino artists to connect with each other and reach a wider audience.
REFERENCES:
Mercado, Arianna. 2018. “Is the Philippines still interested in contemporary art?” The Philippine Star.
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2018/12/03/1873577/philippines-still-interested-contemporary-art
