OUTTAKES FROM VIVA EXCON 2023: “CREATE ART THAT IS FREE AND ART THAT IS EMANCIPATING”
OUTTAKES FROM VIVA EXCON 2023: “CREATE ART THAT IS FREE AND ART THAT IS EMANCIPATING”
On November 8, ten young Aklanon artists went to Antique to attend this year’s Visayan Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference — or ViVa ExCon 2023, five students from The NVC Art Focus Guild consisting of Ronna Mae Sobron, Adrian Savedor, Sean Dominguez, Dayline Gaytano, and Angelica Reign Pilar from the College of Education, alongside five promising young artists from Aklan namely Janine Tolores, HeShe Garms, Shienah Nillasca, Carl Lawrence Parohinog, and Gelo Zarsuelo, led by our very own Mrs. Aileen Quimpo-Hernandez and Mr. Emman Hernandez, together as delegates, proudly representing the province of Aklan.
ViVa ExCon is the longest-running artist-led biennale in Southeast Asia, it is a unifying event that occurs every 2 years and usually gathers hundreds of artists, art collectives, and art enthusiasts from the Eastern, Central, and Western regions of Visayas. Various art historians, critics, art institutions, collectors, writers, academics, and cultural workers from distant regions of the country also attended the event.
In its 17th edition this year, ViVa ExCon 2023 was held in the province of Antique with the theme; ‘Suba sa Iraya’.
The event ran for three days and opened up art exhibitions in the Old Provincial Capitol of Antique, live performances by the Transnational Coalition for Arts, and Art fairs in San Jose Business Park and UMMMA Aldea Warehouse Compound, and held conferences in the University of Antique that opened up conversations that solidify Visayan artists despite of the distances between Visayan islands. The conference brought up conversations that tackled the situation of artists and art making in different Visayan regions, and the intersections between indigenous and contemporary art.
As most of the aforementioned delegates are new to the said events, most of them are thrilled and excited that they get to see and witness this prestigious event in Visayas. As young artists who are navigating their way and identity in the Visayan Art Scene, they expected that Viva ExCon would introduce them to the colorful palette of Visayan Arts and Culture, and the event did meet their expectations. Joining the said event has helped them understand the saying, ‘There is no such thing as Art for Art’s Sake’. As an artist, creating art has always been a search for purpose as well. An art that plants a seed in every person who sees it, a seed of change, a seed that calls to grow and become free, and a tool that helps the masses for change.
It’s time for the Aklanon Art scene to be challenged and finally show the world its vibrant colors, and it will surely be a thrilling 2-year preparation for ViVa ExCon 2025.
VIVA AKLAN!
Sean Eloid Dominguez BSED 2A
Article by: Louis Joseph M. Candari BCAED 1A