Now in its sixth year, Tubô Cebu Art Fair returns with the theme “Ascend”— a word that means a sense of rising, climbing, and reaching new heights.
“To ascend is to be circumspect of the world around and be ready for any impending changes. This ascent signifies a strong devotion and commitment to art and its making – a journey of mastering techniques, refining a voice, innovating new processes and ultimately reaching the summit of artistic expression.” —Prof. Jay Nathan Jore, Fair Curator
Despite the challenges Tubô has faced in adjusting to the ongoing renovations of Ayala Center Cebu, the three-day art fair was nothing short of successful in providing a space where people can gather and immerse themselves with Cebuano art. The booths were divided into four sections namely: Enclaves, Emerge, Encounters and the Signatures Collection.
KUMBITAY by Roy Ingente. In collaboration with Juanito Salvo, Alexis Ladera, Victoria Tanquerido and Kyryne Dela Torre:
“Sauntering the halls of Ayala Center Cebu, eight suspended canvas cloth with nylon ropes—draping in the air—greets you by the entryway near Rustan’s; and as you hover by Healthy Options while gently craning one’s neck from the second floor, you weave your brows. Scouring at the pieces distinctly made. Meticulously painted colors in lines and abstract forms.” —Maris Villanueva, on her feature of KUMBITAY: Stained and Woven through Resilience
Every year, Tubô Cebu Art Fair pairs a senior artist along with one or two younger artists. Aside from creating a centerpiece, the purpose of the Image of the Fair was to allow the selected artists to respond to each other’s artistic language and creative expressions.
For this year’s Image of the Fair, Fernandez brings into the collaborative piece his extensive experience as a sculptor, writer, educator, and a pioneering conceptual and performance artist in Cebu. Soika and Reboja infuse the work with their unique artistic styles and visual narratives, exploring the social, psychological, and cultural dimensions of contemporary Bisaya society.
“Naningkamot gyud kog himo sa akong part kay giparisan man kog mga maayo na mga artists.” —Raymund Fernandez, during Tubô Art Fair’s Awarding
Tubô Talks: Art Practice & the Landscape of Visual Arts
Soika Vomiter: “Ang imong art practice should be different sa imong source of income. Knowing yourself is important, continue to do art that you really, really love and maabot rana ang kwarta.”
“Ang ila jud gibuhat is naa silay common pattern or formula, if naa pa sila sa early stage sa ilang creative journey, kadaghanon jud is magtrabaho sa jud sila, bisag unsa nga trabaho and on their free time sila magpadayon sa unsa ilang ganahan buhaton. Wala sila nag mind if hinay ra, ang importante ra gyud nila is ila i-nurse ilang soul una..ato ra hatagan ug importance atong life, ang life na kausa ra..”
Naabot jud ang time na ni quit na sila sa ilang trabaho and gi embrace nila ilang art.
Prof Jay Nathan Jore: “It is not an easy job [being an artist]. Art is beyond us, it intends to be viewed by someone, it seeks to dialogue with someone in the social context of art. Art is very important in the culture and identity of a certain group of people.”
“For us to immerse ourselves in Cebuano culture, we just have to interact with Cebuano art and artists.”
This year’s Tubô Cebu Art Fair is also in collaboration with Cebu Art Book Fair from Sept 1-2, 2024 where authors of self published books such as zines were also on display and for sale.
Photography Kyrra Kho
