The Perpetualite launches Project Likha V

by Angelika Estrada and Xamantha Khae Villareal

Setting their eyes to a whole new digital challenge, The Perpetualite (TP) launched their fifth Project Likha exhibit during the 48th University Week, held last February 13 to 15, with the theme ‘Flourished MemorAIes’ at the NCB Lobby.

Headed by the TP Chief Artist Justine Mae Clidoro, together with The Perpetualite artists, Sean Paolo Resente, Josephine Valdez, Julianne Nicole Biong, Claire Llamera, and Julie Ann Dela Cruz, they have succeeded in presenting a three-day art exhibit to the Perpetual community.

In this art exhibit, Clidoro honored the idea of allowing TP artists to create a movement against the dark side of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

They took the opportunity to produce artwork with a message of resistance against AI-generated art and encouraged artists that a computer or a robot would never imitate their love for art.

The event was a collaboration among TP artists, writers, and photographers who produced artwork and created storylines and poems that matched the works of art.

After years of hiatus, this was the only time that Clidoro had the chance to conduct a physical exhibit after holding the Chief Artist position for three years due to struggles brought on by the pandemic. In an interview, she mentioned that it was quite a challenge to do something as big as this project, but with the help of all the people involved, the exhibit was shared with the Perpetualite community. According to her, this exhibit stood to boost the ability of Perpetualites to appreciate artworks made by real artists rather than get used to computer-generated works. She also added that they aim to support artists who lean on doing art as a career or as a way of living. When asked to give a message to artists facing the same challenge, she said, “I think art should not be replaced by robots because, for me, when you create something, you take a piece of your soul with it. Do not let a machine replace you.”

Moreover, the fifth edition of Project Likha V was celebrated not only through an exhibit but also with a workshop headed by guest speakers: Mr. James Brian Avecilla, the person behind the establishment of Project Likha, Ms. Liezl Therese Lirio, and Mr. Rowel Angelo Cadorniga who were also former members of The Perpetualite. Artists, together with the speakers, discovered topics about watercolor, sketching, rendering, digital art, and the anatomy of sculpting.

At the beginning of this project, visiting Perpetualites gave their comments and thoughts on the exhibit.

Julia Delloro, a Senior High Student from 12-Media, said that it was a unique exhibit because it had a cyberpunk theme, comprising all neons that made it more lively to