By Trixie Limson
After a year of hiatus, the DLSU-D’s Visual & Performing Arts Production Unit (VPAPU) came back with their most awaited annual event titled “Angking Stilo Tungo sa Iisang Guhit (ASTIG)” held from November 10 to December 5 with this year’s theme being “Filipino Nga Naman!” — a notion which encouraged participants to reflect on toxic Filipino family culture.
The mechanics of the competition had been announced in a Facebook post during the first week of the month-long event, initially calling for CALABARZON and NCR hopefuls who have a knack for digital or acrylic painting, photography, and pen and ink art; while the winners were thereafter given recognition through a live stream on the same platform during their last day of commencement.
Every participant had a go at artistic expression, but as far as usual contests go, only a few were named victorious namely:
Digital Painting
Champion: “Manika” by Marco V.
1st Runner-Up: “Grad-wait lang!” by NEEN
Acrylic Painting
Champion: “Runs in the Blood” by JR Ofiana
1st Runner-Up: “Posas ng Obligasyon” by Cobe Cabiles
Photography
Champion: “Talk-Sick” by Luna
1st Runner-up: “Bunso” by Justin Maglona
Pen and Ink Art
Champion: “Pigtas” by Miko
1st Runner-Up: “Payaso” by dadan
People’s Choice Award
“Grad-wait lang!” by NEEN
According to Erica Cepe, a probationary member of VPAPU, the organization originally desired to push creative minds into thinking of either personal or resonating viewpoints which capture the negative effects of having pre-existing cultural ideologies.
Looking at this year’s winning pieces, she said the contestants certainly “understood the assignment and had done so much more”.
“A piece that stuck with me the most was “Talk-Sick” by Luna. I am in tune with their description of the photography about families mingling with their relatives’ lives and creating comparisons that cause feelings of invalidation. The art itself is ever-present, because I, too, experience this kind of situation in my own household. It is rather sad to be able to relate with this piece — a powerful description and photo, I must say,” Cepe added.
As part of their call to use art as a personal voice in addressing social issues, VPAPU will be holding a webinar titled “ARTIBISMO: Sining bilang boses ng Kontemporaryong Pilipino” on Friday, December 16.
