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kynaswhereabouts · 6 years

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Bringing art closer to the hearts of the Bicolanos

Written by: Kyna De Castro

In celebration of Arts Month, the Salingoy Art Group and Kintab Art Group held separate art exhibits at SM City Naga and Robinsons Place Naga. Both groups have been holding art exhibits annually in public places such as malls, to bring art closer to the heart of Bicolanos with the advocacy of promoting art appreciation and to support our Bicolano artists. Renowned and emerging artists had the opportunity to share their passion, talent and inspiring stories through theses exhibits. Art enthusiasts who have been visiting their exhibits also had the pleasure in viewing different artworks and indulging themselves with the art.

Naga City is the business and commercialization center in the Bicol region, our malls became the potential venue for the art exhibits because of the absence of art museums and lack of knowledge of existing art galleries in the city. People are always at malls either for shopping, dining or leisure. Art exhibits in malls get to extend their audiences to mall-goers which in return, could turn one into appreciating art or be inspired to be artists themselves.

The growing number of our art enthusiasts, local artists and art groups with same advocacy, is now creating Naga City as a central hub of arts in the Bicol region. The wide array and collection of artworks was evident in the recently held Art for Everyone Exhibit last August 2018 at SM City Naga which was participated by renowned, emerging and independent artists from the Bicol Region with a total of 1,080 artworks exhibited. Moreover, SM City Naga gained the recognition for holding the biggest art exhibit in all of the SM Supermalls nationwide.

Murals of Bicol and Salingoy

The “Murals of Bicol” Art Exhibit of the Salingoy Art Group opened last February 16, 2019 and will be running until February 24, 2019, showcasing the latest artworks of the Salingoy artists, to introduce emerging artists and provide an avenue to know them better through their masterpieces. Most of the artworks features our rich Bicol culture, traditions, and interpretations of mythology and barrio sceneries. Murals can be a technical challenge to artists but metaphorically, it also portrays that the size of the art is just as large as its significance to community building.

The Salingoy Art Group was formed way back in December 30, 2000 and founded by Mr. Pancho Piano, a renowned artist, who is well-known for his artworks in stained-glass windows and considered as one of the pillars of Bicol art. His works can be found everywhere in Naga City and neighboring towns. In his effort, the group was formed with the belief that we need a group that will push the advocacy for a multi-disciplinary arts in Bicol and promote Bikolnon artists. The group was named “Salingoy”, a Bicol word which means “to look back”.

To date, The Salingoy Art Group is longest running art group in Bicol that has been conducting several art exhibits in Bicol. Aside from art exhibits, they also conduct lectures on art, panel discussions, workshops and outreach activities. As a group, they often visit museums and art galleries to widen their horizons as well as, hone their artists in their creative vision and spirit.

“Our goal is to really bring art closer to people. Not just in galleries, spaces or textbooks. We recognize that art has big role in the community. It is better conducting it in public places so that it can be enjoyed by all walks of life and fulfill its role in community building,” shared Ms. Melissa Villa-Real Basmayor, writer and artist of Salingoy Art Group.

“Naga City has malls and few galleries. There are limited choices for venues where art exhibits can be held. However, the practicality will depend on the availability of the venue. But we also consider which venue is apt for the objective. Like for the murals, we need a bigger space,” she said when asked about how they choose venues for their exhibit.

“Sometimes we have events like art lectures for students. We held them at the Naga City Art Gallery which is in JMR Coliseum because it will more conducive for the students. They don’t need to pay for any fees and could freely indulge themselves with the artworks,” she added.

Moreover, she also expressed her opinion about having a museums or galleries that is wholly dedicated to arts in Naga, “We have Naga City Art Gallery. We are advertising it so that people will know that we have a gallery. However, I think that it will be better to have a dedicated gallery or museum, preferably in a more prominent space in downtown (Centro) so that it will eradicate the stigma that art is hidden or can only be found in special private places.”

“Art is a way of thinking and making sense of the world. It is a way of how the human spirit negotiates time and space. In my personal creative pursuit, I see that art is a process and not just a product. It is the idea of creating art which is important for me, as an artist,” she furthered.

Ang Pagsirang asin an Kintab

With the theme, “Pagsirang: Emerging Images and Emotions”, The Kintab Artist Group is bringing hope through their art exhibit featuring Bikolnon Visual Artists at Robinsons Place Naga which will run from February 18-24, 2019. “Pagsirang” is the Bicol term which means “sunrise”. Kintab Artist Group President, Mr. Harold Gomez explained, “Bicol Region is prone to calamities like typhoons. We call this exhibit “Pagsirang” or “sunrise” because there is always hope. There is always sunrise.”

The Kintab Artist Group was formed in late January 2013. They first started in Pili, Camarines Sur where its mayor, happen to love art. Former Pili Mayor Alexis San Luis have been supportive for the arts and through the efforts of Mr. Harold Gomez and his wife, Maricris, they gathered artists in Pili with the purpose of exploring the possibilities of organizing themselves as group. They worked hard in convincing local artists to come together and finally form the group. During their first meeting at the Pili Municipal Park near an acacia tree, some suggested to name the group, “Kinang”. However, they all agreed to translate it to Bikol language and finally named the group as “Kintab”, a Bicol word which means “to glow” or “to shine”.

Every arts month, they conduct art exhibits since the foundation of their group. They invite local artists and even manila-based artists to participate in their events like art exhibits, workshops and cultural tours where they can all meet and create network of artists.

“We want every artist to be recognized. For newbies, we want to guide them through our workshops. We are quality over quantity. We are progressive in carrying out the advocacy in connecting with small communities. We are artists with a cause,” He shared.

The Kurit Aki Exhibit which was held just last month is one of their projects which focused in helping the children who are victims of TD USMAN. They conducted psychosocial activity for children by engaging them into art. The Kurit Aki Exhibit featured the artworks of the children who undergone the psychosocial activity and sold their artworks during the exhibit. The proceeds for every artworks sold will be given to the victims of TD USMAN in Buhi, Camarines Sur.

“For me, art is not just social or cultural, or something that must be mind-blowing. It needs a heart, an emotion. It must make you feel something. An artist does not need to isolate itself. An artist needs to go out there to be with people so that they will be recognized that they are recording time and emotion,” he also added.

Other than conducting art exhibits in malls, they have also been having exhibits at The 98 Art Gallery is located along San Mateo St. Penafrancia Avenue, Naga City. Sometimes, they are also conducting their exhibits for Humanities and Arts appreciation classes of schools and universities like Ateneo de Naga University and Naga College Foundation.

The Kinatab Artists Group is now a non- profit group of visual artists, writers, musicians and other art forte which expresses different identities in expressing their own art pieces which main goal is to preserve, promote and develop Bicol culture, tradition and arts. They are highly motivated and responsible team of individuals committed to developing themselves professionally to be able to make direct contribution towards enhancement of health and wellness in the arts and with fellow artists, as well as contribute to the relevant advocacies through information dissemination, relevant training and outreach activities.

Efforts for the arts

The absence of an art museum in the city where one can house the collection of the finest masterpieces has led for local Bicolano artists, art groups and art enthusiasts to reach out an audience through public spaces for the efforts of introducing arts. Along with this effort, came the newly opened art space in Naga City, located at 416 Bagumbayan Sur called, “The 416 Art Space”.

The 416 Art Space is an intimate space surrounded by the best art pieces in Bicol, a cup of freshly pressed coffee, and conversations on art. This is managed and owned by Mr. Dennis Gonzaga who believes that market for art will naturally evolve and develop. “My advocacy right now is to educate would-be patrons on why art is a worthy investment, both commercially and culturally,” he shared.

“The art space is merely a meeting point. The 416 Art Space is not really designed to be an enclosed space. It is an organic and mutable space that can evolve, adapt, expand, or specialize, depending on what the Visual Arts community needs and requires,” he explained when asked about his plans for the art space.

Just like cafes that started in something small but then suddenly have been sprouting like mushrooms in the city, we wanted to know what awaits for the arts industry. Even though still new, we also cannot help but to look forward and think about the future for the art space. Where do we see The 416 Art Space in five years?

“I don't know,” he answered. “To be honest, I am simply focusing on the ‘here and now’. I am hoping that in the next few years or the next decade, The 416 will be a bridge instead of a gateway, for anyone who wish to channel their passion for the arts, regardless of their status,” he added.

He has also been marketing and encouraging people to visit his art space through word of mouth and social media. They also might have a website soon. However, he strongly believe that nothing would beat the word of mouth in marketing which is the most authentic feedback. They are currently having auctions every day until the end of February. Also, they have a backroom inventory of fine art pieces for sale.

When he was finally asked about what inspired him in opening the art space, he said, “I feel that the visual arts culture in Bikol is one of the richest in the country in terms of talent and creative inspiration. But while the talent is there, we have a gap in terms of curation and criticism. In my contemplation of the development of vibrant art scenes across the archipelago, I came to the realization that there are four core sectors that are needed to sustain the emergence of Art: Creatives, Curation, Criticism and Collectors.”

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