Art is an all-encompassing concept in which one moves through it either by yielding to its current or by simply acknowledging how it is interwoven into every intricate crevice of the human condition. Some dabble, but artists envelop themselves in the wave, creating worlds within worlds; bone and sinew, rubble and mud.
Art is not just merely a concept—but a way of life. The 4th Visayas Art Fair is beholden as the contemporary intermingling of artists across the archipelago, where the meeting of minds, stories, and humble beginnings are celebrated.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Bodega Design Caravan, and the Cebu Culture, Art and Design Foundation—along with partner universities, organizations, and private supporters—have teamed up to create a thriving space for shared challenges and fresh inspirations.
This powerhouse collaboration fuels the evolution of the country’s creative scene. Together, they’re championing the value of artists and their undeniable impact on culture and society, shaking up norms and leading the charge for progress in the arts.
Now on its fourth leg, the Visayas Art Fair took place at Oakridge Business Park from November 21 to 24. With the theme “Artistic Diversity,” the event has built a reputation for success. Thanks to the leadership of one Lorenza Boquiren, the fair stood out for being highly participatory and immersive, engaging both participants and audiences alike.
In lieu of embracing uniqueness and diversity, powerful paintings, stunning art installations, and interactive exhibits weren’t the only main allure of the event. Workshops, film showings, and fashion shows were also offered to the public. Beyond the purview of cute Instagram posts to share, the VAF was a breathing, sensory experience in which one had to be fully present to take pleasure.
The VAF went on for four days with activities meant to showcase the avant-garde talents of acclaimed galleries, collectives, and even independent artists to bring justice to the richness of the industries they originate from. With a shared mission to explore the limitless possibilities of art, the focus lies on blending traditional and modern mediums to offer comprehensive knowledge. Art becomes the medium through which visionaries deliver messages that propel them toward the future.
One exemplary experience I had the privilege to partake in was an art lesson instructed by the Editor-in-Chief of Daloy Magazine, Delsa Gonzales. Coming from an affluent family of artists, she succinctly elucidated Art History and its Periodic Movements among a crowd of young people who had nothing but an inkling of interest in the topic.
She would point towards the caricatures situated across the room, letting the participants answer candidly on how they interpret art, which can be as personal as feeling or as objective as applying rationality. Ms. Delsa Gonzales wrapped up the talk by sparking critical thinking outside societal expectations for context and time. This idea hung above the space of the room just as a group of artists swept in at the right time to present the short film they had made.
‘Baradiya’ is a Mindanaoan homegrown 30-minute movie directed by Gab Mejia, Datu Arayan, Miko Reyes, and David Loughran. It explores the struggles of a queer youth grappling with her identity and role as a Babaylan. The film highlights how she felt unfit within the confines of heteronormative social structures.
Starring Krystahl Guina, the movie features her breakout performance, capturing the idiosyncratic nature of her life. She takes pride in her influential position of authority within her tribe and, most importantly, the gender expression she rightfully owns.
The film intimately details how this group, lost in the mountains of Bukidnon, found the perfect subject to bring to life. It aspires to challenge an outdated system built to repress and punish people for their true selves. Additionally, it honors indigenous lives and their ancestral lands through a cinematic masterpiece.
I left the Visayas Art Fair feeling as though I had just traveled through time. The event bridged the extreme ends of a spectrum—where art was once venerated for its orthodox execution and is now celebrated as a malleable force of nature. Today, art seeks to propel itself in innovative ways. Synthesizing these opposing realities is a crucial endeavor for its survival.
Art is not just a way of life but a narrative of death that captures the essence of being alive. It serves as a perpetual meditation on life and death as complementary forces, dancing together across the plane of time. This interplay allows art to continuously remake itself.
This underscores the importance of creating a precious avenue like the Visayas Art Fair. The 2024 edition has nurtured this dynamic and continues to help it flourish.
Photography Kyrra Kho
