rt , A the Quiet Catalyst for Change

Art is the rays of sun you feel when taking an afternoon stroll. It’s the beautiful flowers that adorn the streets you walk on. It is as boundless as the great seas and as diverse as all the cultures in the world. And like the air you breathe, it is everywhere. Everything around you can be considered art.

But I used to not see art. I thought that art meant the paintings hung on museum walls or the photos presented in fancy galleries. I used to live life without realizing I was surrounded by art.

WAs I’m writing this article, I am sitting in front of a clay vase with fresh flowers my hat are your plans during the last month of the school year? mom received from my dad for Mother’s Day. It makes me wonder how the vase came into existence. Was it made carefully by a skilled craftsman? Or perhaps it was mass-produced using a mold in a big factory. What about the flowers? What was the florist trying to convey when they chose to put these flowers together in a bouquet?

As Lapiscians clamor to finish their academic requirements, students dream of what they can do during their academic break. If you are someone that wants an adventure, then look out for AcadArena’s CONQuest, as it makes its return on June 2-4, 2023.

The event boasted a wide range of guests last year, and AcadArena CEO Justin Banusing aims to top last year’s event.

From its humble beginnings in 2017 as a gaming convention in Iloilo that had only 700 attendees, it has now become one of the most renowned Philippine conventions to date, becoming the biggest yearly celebration of pop culture and gaming.

Once you see how much art surrounds you, you’ll recognize that art is not just something pretty to look at, and you’ll begin to think about the pieces you come across. For centuries, this is what art has been doing, unbeknownst to many of us—provoking thoughts and starting conversations.

From every brushstroke that makes up a painting to the words that complete poems and novels to the melodies that accompany musical messages, art has continuously challenged the status quo. It has ignited conversations, catalyzing progress toward social transformation.

Some of the most notable catalysts for social change in

Last year, CONQuest garnered over 33,000 attendees at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. Now widely regarded as one of the largest events in the Philippines, CONQuest 2023 aims to expand its scope outside gaming and diverge into other areas such as music, food, and cosplay.

Now on its fifth edition, it aims to level up the playing field by making itself a spirit, which ultimately led to freedom from their oppressors.

Philippine history were Jose Rizal’s two-part novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. By appealing to the emotions of their readers, these novels brought about the revolution against the Spaniards during the Spanish occupation.

All of the artworks mentioned so far are works from previous centuries. There are also works of art today that continue to catalyze social change, for example, songs. Music by artists like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé has been empowering women and other minority groups, such as the LGBTQIA+ community for the past decades.

The use of art can also be seen in protest rallies, where we can see protestors holding up signs, usually with poetic averments and symbols. With very few words, these rallyists are able to articulate their thoughts, challenge the system, and inspire thoughts among spectators.

Sometimes, there isn’t even a need for words. Many paintings and photos throughout history have encouraged thoughts that led to change.

Paintings like Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix and Juan Luna’s Spoliarium roused citizens’ revolutionary multivenue event with the utilization of Conrad Manila, Seashell Lane, and National University MOA on top of the already sizable SMX Convention Center.

This year, CONQuest is hosting its first-ever “Music Night,” where featured artists such as The Rose, Hyper Potions, and James Reid are going to be performing live. On top of that, it will also be the first-ever gaming convention to feature a food festival along Seashell Lane to make sure your bellies are full while exploring the convention.

CONQuest 2023 will not be complete without its featured guests. This year, Michael Reeves, LilyPichu, Valkyrae, Akidearest and JoeyTheAnimeMan, and returning guests such as members of Scamily are only some of the event’s headliners.

One-day tickets from Friday to Sunday will cost you Php 800, while a three-day pass is Php 2,000. Meanwhile, fans can also purchase the Premium Pass worth Php 20,000, which grants entry to all days of CONQuest, music night access, an included merch bundle, and priority lanes to MeetZones and fan meets.

The LPSci Standard Press has been chosen as one of the official media partners for this year’s CONQuest and we cannot wait to see you there, Lapiscians! Make CONQuest 2023 your own adventure as we see you in the skies this June!

In its various forms, art has the potential to create lasting societal changes by challenging normal perspectives, raising awareness, opening new conversations, and enthusing action. Its ability to appeal to emotions and let people imagine new possibilities beyond what currently exists makes art a quiet but powerful force in shaping the world we live in. CONQuest