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Protest art

An artist’s emotions and thoughts are conveyed through his work – whether it is in a painting, poem, dance, or song.

This Labor Day, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) held an art and photo exhibit at the People’s Park in Baguio City as part of their demonstration against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s government.

This is the first time for KMU to organize an art exhibit, but this exhibit is not just an ordinary exhibit. It is a showcase of “Arts of Protest”.

Paintings and poems of various artists who are members of the Artista iti Kordilyera para iti Waya-waya (ARKIW) under the Dap-ayan iti Kultura ti Kordilyera (DKK) were displayed in a modern abstract layout. Sandra Ferwelo, a UP Baguio Fine Arts student; Myke Sotero, a Tan-aw member; and Aldwin Quitasol of KMU were among the many artists who participated.

Aldwin Quitasol said that the exhibit aims to give a venue for artists who also want to express their discontent of the Arroyo Regime and to give the masses a little bit of variation.

Some of these paintings have already been showcased during the Human Rights Day in December 2004. However, this is also the first time that these were presented to the masses because it is of course “arts for the public”.

The topics of the presentations vary from social realism, colonial mentality, and those inspired by the masses from the artists’ basic mass integration in the communities.

Upon interviewing Sandra Ferwelo, one of the artists and a member of DKK, she said that she started painting as a hobby but now it is an integral part of her. She feels proud that she can voice out her opinions and emotions through her canvass. Her inspiration comes from the hardships and experiences of laborers and from the November 16, 2004 Hacienda Luisita Massacre in Tarlac.

From encounters like these is where one can generate art.

Various paintings of Sandra’s that were flaunted include “White hands on protecting abortion”, “Basta may apol si Lola” and others that have not yet been named.

Sandra is also responsible for painting the background frames of the photo exhibit.

This new exhibit of arts of protest is the artists’ own way of airing their grievances and informing the public through their works of art. # Christina Marie C. Llanes/MMSU Intern for NORDIS

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