DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Visual artists, writers, and performers from the SOCCSKSARGEN region joined over 400 artists from across the Philippines for the eighth annual Mindanao Art fair, running from Sept. 20 to Oct. 1 at SM Lanang.
Leading the regional delegation is Art Bound, a General Santos-based collective of young visual artists presenting their exhibition, “Liminal Space.”
“For us, this is more than just joining an exhibit,” said Jea Nuñez, president of Art Bound. “It is proof that it is never too early or too late to start painting. No matter your age, even if you are a beginner, you can still step up, put yourself out there, and be part of a bigger art community.”
Nuñez said the group aims to encourage aspiring creators to move past self-doubt, noting that opportunities exist for those willing to take risks and learn.
“As artists from Region 12, this is also our way of showing what we have here in Mindanao and in GenSan,” Nuñez said. “We have so many artists with different stories, backgrounds, and perspectives, and we want to give them a space where their works can be seen and appreciated beyond our usual circles.”
Nuñez also founded The Art Studio GenSan, an initiative that provides painting lessons to youth and connects them to public exhibitions like Mindanao Art.
Other regional participants include artist Leonardo Rey S. Cariño and the performance group Teatro Ambahanon, featured during the opening program. The event’s Writer’s Gallery, curated by Karlo Antonio Galay David, features works by SOX writers Teng Mangansakan and Gerald Galindez. Additionally, Kidapawan writer Melchor Bayawan is set to launch his zine, “Mananoy’n Loggos” (A Gentle Flowing), on Sept. 28.
Cotabato Province is represented by Dan Mindo’s Art Beyond Studio alongside a dedicated booth from Museyo Kutawato showcasing local artworks.
Organized by Davao-based Lawig-Diwa Inc. alongside the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Committee on Art Galleries, this year’s fair centers on the theme “In the Changing Cycle of Dark and Lightness.” The event features multiple satellite activities across Mindanao.
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