ARTS AS A FORM OF PROTEST (DILIMAN COMMUNE

ART AS A

F O R M O F P R O T E S T ( D I L I M A N C O M M U N E )

“To me, these are the good old days not because they’re good, but because we are alive to experience and to change them.” ― Barbara Kruger

Protest art refers to the artistic works created by activists and social movements. It is a traditional mode of communication used by a variety of collectives and the state to inform and persuade citizens. It arouses the base emotions of their audiences, which can increase the climate of tension and open new avenues for dissent. Because art, unlike other forms of dissent, requires few financial resources, less financially able groups can rely on performance art and street art as a less expensive tactic. Many may not see it clearly but arts such as these are a vital instrument for establishing social consciousness, building networks, making information available, cost-effectivity. Signs, banners, posters, and other printed materials meant to convey a particular cause or message are produced by social movements.

Toym Imao’s enKWENTrO featured two part installations of “Nagbabadyang Unos” and “Barikada”. These were made to be a protest for the different issues our country is facing, the artwork is embedded in a recycled classroom chair. The chair symbolizes spaced for learnings because all of us started gaining knowledge in a classroom setting when we are still young, but with the embedded art works which symbolizes different protest from different issues our country is facing it also portraying that from the same chair we also opened our eyes and see the painful histories and realities.“Nagbabadyang Unos” was supposed to represent the gathering ferment and dissent during 1970 which would pave the way for the passing of Martial law in 1972. Coincidentally, this artwork would go on to represent this current day’s “upcoming storm”. The spread of the pandemic in early 2020 hindered the extensive exhibition of the artworks, but it did give it more meaning because of its timeliness. Hopefully in the future, it can be looke upon without any fear of any up and coming “storms”.

The material from the enKwentro inspired us in a way that it reminds us that even if we are facing this pandemic outbreak we still have a lot of painful issues and realities we need to face like the red tagging, human rights, illegal arrest and many more. In the poem “Alay kay kasamang Sonny”, we felt the essence or spirit of the UP students during that time. Although the poem simply described the hardships and sufferings the persona’s friends went through, it resonated with me since under more normal circumstances, this could happen to anybody who is rallying or protesting for a cause they believe in. The fact that the system allows these unjust killings reminds me that our country has a long way to go in terms of unity and nationalism.

REFERENCES

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“SEXIST STEREOTYPES: BARBIE GIRL SONG.” ISLCOLLECTIVE.

“TUGON SA PAMANA.” ENGKWENTRO, ENGKWENTRO.UPD.EDU.PH/TUGON/LUNSURAN/.

AFRICA, SONNY. ECONVERSATIONS: A CRASH COURSE ON PEOPLE ECONOMICS AND CHARTER-CHANGE. NATIONALIST STUDY MOVEMENT, 21 FEB. 2021. WEBINAR.

BEE, SUSAN. “POW!” A.I.R., 2014. RETRIEVED FROM HTTPS://NEWS.ARTNET.COM/ART-WORLD/ FEMINIST-ART-SHOWS-WOMENS-HISTORY-MONTH-880253.

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FRANCISCO, RAFAEL, GUAVEZ, AARON, LIMJUCO, ELIJAH. COMPILATION OF STUDY NOTES IN ARTS 1. MARCH TO MAY 2021.

GRAY, K. “EVIDENCE OF RAPE CULTURE IN MODERN MUSIC.” CLA JOURNAL 7, 2019, HTTPS://UCA.EDU/CAHSS/ FILES/2020/07/GRAY-CLA-2019.PDF.

IMAO, TOYM. “ENKWENTRO: MGA KWENTO NG ENKWENTRO - ENGKWENTRO: SA(LA)YSAY NG DILIMAN COMMUNE.” ENGKWENTRO, ENGKWENTRO.UPD.EDU.PH/ENKWENTRO/.

LICO, GERARD. “ON THIS SITE WILL RISE: NATION-BUILDING AND MARCOSIAN ARCHITECTURES.” SURI SINING: THE ART STUDIES ANTHOLOGY. THE ART STUDIES FOUNDATION, 2011, 171-184.

REFERENCES

LOPEZ, PATRICIA. “HISTORICIZING ART AS A WESTERN CONSTRUCT.” ZOOM, 11 MARCH 2021.

LUVAAS, BRENT. “MATERIAL INTERVENTIONS: INDONESIAN DIY FASHION AND THE REGIME OF THE GLOBAL BRAND.” CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 28.1 (2013): 127-143.

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STAND UP. “BARIKADA.” PEOPLE’S CHARTER FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA, 2021.

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ABOUT US

Aaron Christian D. Guavez is a 20-year-old BS Business Administration and Accountancy student in the University of the Philippines - Diliman. Although he is looking forward to pursuing a career in accounting and law, he always had a passion and appreciation for arts, especially literary and performing arts. Dancing has always been his source of happiness, as well as competing in Copyreading and Headline Writing competitions.-

It has been such a delight for Guavez to work on “Unveil” with his co-creators. He researched and wrote Berger’s Claims section in addition to Advertisements’ and Imperialism’s relation to Arts. He also added on other sections from his previous study guides contributions throughout the semester. Guavez also occasionally suggested to the layout designer the overall layout and design of the zine on top of proofreading its content.

Elijah Hannah S. Limjuco is a 19 year-old BS Mathematics student in the University of the Philippines - Diliman. Though her father is artistically inclined, she lacked fine arts skills, but always had the appreciation for it. She believes that writing evokes most of her creativity, as she constantly competed in Feature Writing contests in Tarlac, the province she grew up in.

The process of conceiving this zine with her co-creators is such a pleasure for Limjuco. She helped curate the content by writing the introduction, and gathering information and writing about art’s history, erasure of cultural arts, and political involvement in architecture. She also helped by formulating the section titles and polishing subtitles of each section. She is grateful to have helped in writing the sections about elements and principles, advertisements, and protest art with her co-creators. Limjuco also helped in proofreading the zine.

Rafael M. Francisco is a 19- year old AA (Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino) student in the University of the Philippines - Diliman. He is a freelance artist who draws portraits, digital arts, layouts, and photo manipulation. He has a passion in both producing content (scripts) for films and creating artworks. He loves to explore his capabilities and believes that it may help him make a mark in the world.

For Francisco, working side by side with his co-creators was such a great experience. He helped by inputting and researching possible contents for the zine such as How Olivia, Rodrigo redefine music, Body Arts in the Philippines, and Sexist Contents in Modern Music. He also helped his co-creators in formulating the content for Men in Power. Francisco is the layout designer for this zine.