Beach Art: Summary Post

ashley-thorner_polyhedral-structures_photo-by-edward-c-pangilinan

claro ramirez’s “andador”. photo by edward pangilinan

hitoshi yamafuji’s communityis for you is for me. photo by edward pangilinan

sara tse’s fish-catcher. photo by edward pangilinan

wire tuazon’s “urn”. photo by edward pangilinan

kawayan de guia’s “biyaheng langit”. photo by dr.raul palencia

mark salvatus’ “salabay”. photo by dr. raul palencia

From September 29-October 5, 2008, the Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte became the converging point for artists from the Philippines, the US, China and Japan for the 2nd Bagasbas Beach International Eco-Art Festival (BBIEAF). Hosted by artist Joaquin Palencia and sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes College Foundation (OLLCF) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), this unique art fest explores the issues of sustainability through the artists’ various massive art installations.
But there is more to BBIEAF than just, well, art. The festival called for more than just input from the artists themselves but a deep collaboration with the local communities surrounding the area. Artists had to go through a period of immersion, adopting communities and through a mutual process of learning, create art that is forward-looking but rooted in the vernacular language of the people.
In our recent posts, we showed interviews with artists such as Ashley Thorner (US), Toshi Yamafuji (Japan), Claro Ramirez (Phil) and Kawayan de Guia (Phil). This time, to conclude the event, we are posting these artists’ remarkable installations.
The BBIEAF may only be in its second round, but already it has deeply touched everyone involved in the project and even those who witnessed its unfolding. During one of our numerous conversations with host Joaquin Palencia, he has made clear his intent to produce art that isn’t removed from people’s experiences, rather art that is relevant, celebratory, moves and challenges us to make life a little better. And the BBIEAF definitely makes for a good start.
(Photos by Edward Pangilinan and Dr. Raul Palencia)

Beach Art, part 3

As part of the series covering the 2nd BBIEAF in Daet, we’re posting here our short interview with Japanese artist Hitoshi Fujiyama as he talks about their experience during their immersion with their assigned local community.
Toshi, with the help of his friend Mika Yamaguchi recount how this immersion has had a profound and overwhelming effect on them (thanks to Filipino hospitality), and his plans to build an art piece as homage to that experience.

Beach Art

We had the pleasure of being invited to attend the 2nd Bagasbas Beach International Eco-Art Festival (BBIEAF) held in Daet, Camarines Norte. The art festival, hosted and organized by artist Joaquin Palencia, saw the coming together of various artists from the Philippines, the US, China and Japan in a common thrust to explore the issues of sustainability and art.

From September 29 to October 3, these artists will have worked on massive installations that will be put on display along the stretch of Bagasbas Beach, known to be a popular surfing haunt. The aim of the festival is two-fold: not only will the art address the festival’s theme but it is also hoped that through an immersion process with Daet’s local communities, artists can produce multi-layered collaborative work with the members of the community set within the context of Daet’s traditions, histories, environment and daily life.
Artists include Kawayan de Guia, Claro Ramirez, Mark Salvatus and Wire Tuazon from the Philippines, Ashley Thorner of the US, Sara Tse of China and Hitoshi Yamafuji from Japan. The exhibit will be curated by Dr. Patrick Flores.

We’ve initially posted a video of one of the artists, Ashley Thorner. Watch out for more in the coming posts