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MANILA, Philippines—Lined up along the two-kilometer stretch of the University of the Philippines Oval in the Diliman are various artworks of some of the country’s best artists.
Dubbed “Looking for Juan” (a play of words for the quintessential Filipino symbol Juan De la Cruz), the exhibit features some 70 artists with their ideas on what it is to be a Filipino.
The project was organized by the Center for Arts, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development (Canvas), a non-profit organization working for the advancement of Filipino arts and culture and local artists.
According to Gigo Alampay, executive director of Canvas, “Looking for Juan” is an outdoor poster campaign inspired by a project of a New York-based environmentalist organization.
For this project, Canvas invited artist groups and individual artists and graphic designers to create artworks on the theme, and writers were also invited to express in 30 words or less what they think it is to be a Filipino.
The artworks and texts submitted by the participants were exhibited at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and were then printed on large tarpaulins which were then showcased at the UP Diliman Oval.
“It’s a way to engage people, not only on social issues but also to get them to view the artworks in a relaxed setting, in a more, hindi naman natural setting but in a more relaxed environment, na hindi ganun ka formal unlike when you go a museum or the galleries, medyo maraming hindi nakakapunta e,” Alampay says, explaining why they chose an outdoor banner campaign.
The outdoor setting of the exhibit has gained positive feedback from those who have seen it around the UP Diliman campus.
“At the very least, I would imagine that a lot of them thought it’s a unique creative idea and maganda while it lasted. In a way, you are planting seeds lang naman. You are not going to make activists after they see the [exhibit, but] it’s a fun event,” Alampay says.
The artworks in UP Diliman will only be showcased until July 11 and the tarpaulins will be recycled as tote bags to be sold as souvenir items. Proceeds will go to Padyak, a UP Mountaineers-led movement to promote cycling, environmentalism, and a healthy lifestyle.
The theme for the project is anchored on the premise of finding the Filipino identity.
“We’ve always been interested in the use of art for social advocacy. Intuitively we know that art has an impact, a social impact. And it’s a source of pride,” Alampay says.
“We are a very creative people and you can channel that creativity for meaningful change and this is an attempt to do that. Plus, it’s fun,” he adds.
For its project next year, Canvas is already gearing up to tweak the “Looking for Juan” theme to coincide with the 2010 National Elections.
“The overall concept is it will be a collective message that when you talk about the elections, you are not talking about a heroes or saviors [because] they’re just leaders. You know, they are leaders [but] they are not the saviors because saviors are all around,” Alampay says.
Canvas hopes to launch its “non-partisan but political” campaign April next year and help voters choose wisely.
