MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Art is indeed everywhere, and you can most definitely find it when you roam around any street. We have the natural art of nature itself making swirls and lines of blues, greens, and peaceful hues in skies, bodies of water, and greenery, to name a few. In the city, however, you would likely see a touch of it together with street lights, electric boxes, and a bunch of cement walls. If you’re lucky, you might just see some form of art in the people you encounter, or in serendipitous scenes framed by alleyways, windows, or infrastructure. That is the beauty of street art.
The art exhibit “Urban Canvas: Wandering the Streets” commenced on July 12, and showcased the creative talents of Multimedia Arts students from Lyceum of the Philippines University. As a mandatory requirement for graduating students, this year’s exhibit focuses on street art exploration.
The three-day event, hosted by Cayler Filio and Jonnalyn Alday, saw different specialties per day. The first and second days featured local muralists such as Mary Anne Caharop and Ingrid Valerie. As for the last day, they invited local performers including Franklyn Ego, Deyl, Never Paco, Never Run, Friday Ends, and End Street. This gave the audience something else to look forward to without outshining its main purpose.
During the final stages of organizing the event, the team encountered some brief dilemmas, one of which revolved around selecting the artworks to be showcased by each member of the group. Being 4th-year students, some of them had access to their share of plates for display, but not everyone had that privilege. Instead of viewing this as a setback, the team embraced it as an opportunity and challenge for the exhibitors to unleash their creativity.
They devised a solution by dividing the exhibition into three main areas, each with its theme. The first area, called “Alley,” focuses on graffiti, tags, and brush strokes. The second area, “The Block,” features stickers and slaps. Lastly, “The Ville” welcomes any artwork strictly laid within an 18 inches x 24 inches canvas. These distinct areas allowed the audience to immerse themselves in urban life and gain a deeper appreciation for street art as a whole. The Alley symbolizes narrow streets, The Block represents streets and roads, and The Ville embodies the essence of a village.
Despite being represented and receiving coverage in the Philippines, art has often been perceived as a secondary pursuit for those aiming to make it their profession. However, this exhibit and its organizers have taken a significant step toward integrating street art into society. They view it as an opportunity to promote and foster appreciation for the public beauty that street art brings.
