Kabunyan de Guia Davao exhibit: Art across crooked roads and green patches




 


If you want to publicity, the mall is the way to go. With the high foot traffic, you get the audience. If you invited guests, parking is convenient a cool venue are among the conveniences. This is why more artists are holding exhibitions in public spaces.

Two more exhibits happened this October in Abreeza Mall- Kabunyan de Guia’s “A Joy Ride to Handurawan” and “A Visual Art Exhibit”, a fundraising event for Patches of Green Mindanao Foundation.

Kabunyan took off from his hometown in Baguio City to relocate in Davao. He could have traveled the convenient way, instead he drove his 1975 Volkswagen camper van (“combi” as many of us know it). He journeyed through Banawe Rice Terraces down to Mindoro, across the Visayas and Mindanao to get to this destination taking his passion for art along for the ride.

 

Kabunyan de Guia. From Baguio to Davao. His sculptures are interpretions of his his sons’ drawings

 

His van is now parked at the mall and around it, his art and his kids. “A Joy Ride to Handuwawan” is a collaboration with his two sons. The kids drew and the father turned it into mosaic sculptures. The result is a whimsical tableau. Mythical-like characters taking a journey in a real-world vehicle reminding the audience of childhood, when everything is possible through imagination.

 

Sir Star & His Trusted Steed. Father & son collab- Kagunyan & Kalipay de Guia

 

(Left) “Sarimanok”. The artist wants to rekindle in everyone the myths and visions of our tribal brothers and sisters; (Right) “A Boy and His Lantern”

 

“I want to create a small bubble—a world where people can go back to their childhood and re-experience the mind of a child. I want to awaken the young and old to a world that has forever been inside of us. When we lose our playfulness and childlike power to skip and hop across different realms it is like we stop breathing and before we know it we are trapped and reliant on gadgets and machines to survive instead of imagination and play. Let us not forget to be playful in life!” said Kabunyan.

 


“Tara! Lupad ta!”


 

At the Alveo showroom, eleven Davao visual artists gathered to help a cause. At “A Visual Art Exhibit”, each brought an artwork or two to display and sell. Proceeds of the sales will help the programs of Patches of Green Mindanao Foundation, Inc.

“The foundation is very grateful to the artists who have involved themselves as part of the solution to address needs of our growing society,” said Amelia B. Bonifacio, Patches of Green VP & Visual Art Exhibit Project Coordinator.

Many of us are not familiar with the charitable body. It’s “a foundation leading and caring for the poorest among us in our communities.” Several projects have been fulfilled for the unprivileged since 2006. A patch of green a time will eventually create a field of lush greenery.

 

“A Visual Art Exhibit” artists Ega Carreon, Brando Cedeño, Daryl Descallar, Boots Dumlao, Dadai Joaquin, Bituin Kn otts & Josie Tionko


The art exhibit proved to be one union that can help their endeavor. Fans of the artists and friends of the foundation trooped to the exhibit area to show their support.

Art can beautify the world in so many ways.

 

(Left) Kubali Millan’s Durian 1; (Right) Josie Tionko’s Water Lilies


For travel stories, visit www.jeepneyjinggoy.com
Email me at jinggoysalvador@yahoo.com

Also published in the SunStar Davao newspaper