Plet Bolipata: ‘I live in my own little world — but it’s okay, they know me here’

Plet Bolipata’s ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ forms part of the larger discourse on women, tackling issues such as sexual harassment and coming-of-age.

Plet Bolipata is arguably known for her whimsical world-building in the form of public space interventions. This year, for Art Fair Philippines, we get to take a peek through yet another one of Bolipata’s constructed fairytales.

Bolipata has worked with different spaces and locations throughout her artistic practice. Ranging from Central Park in New York to the gardens of Intramuros and the Ateneo de Manila University campus, Bolipata has consistently been creating spaces for the public to interact with her colorful pieces of work.

This Art Fair Philippines, Bolipata has been working under their Sponsors Projects with Globe Platinum to provide this year’s crowd with an expansive tableau of “Little Red Riding Hood.” She plans on exhibiting a “multi-media extravaganza,” combining video and installation in her space.

A capelet from Plet Bolipata’s show, “Little Red Riding Hood in Central Park”(left) (2017) for the Helping Hands Foundation.“Little Red Riding Hood Series: Lola crocheting with a statue at the foot of her bed” (right)by Plet Bolipata. Photos courtesy of the artist

Initially a painter, Bolipata began working with installation after having lived in a mango orchard in Zambales. Living in such a large space allowed her to extend her work outside of a studio and into the outside world. Antoni Gaudí, a Catalonian architect, has also greatly inspired her installation practice after her visit to Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain in 2005.

“It takes a village to put (up) an installation,” Bolipata says. Ever since Globe Platinum offered her a sponsorship at the end of January, she has been working hard to source and build this installation. From furniture, tree branches, and cement reindeer sculptures, Bolipata’s installation is one of collaboration among people of different walks of life.

Since last year, Bolipata has been fixated with the childhood story of “Little Red Riding Hood.” Her work at this Art Fair brings this story to life, combining different mediums and practices into her work at, involving an eclectic mix of carpentry and crochet. While knitting and crocheting is often shoved into the backseat of art practices and considered craft, through her works, Bolipata wants to show viewers that knitting and crocheting can be considered a valuable form of art, much like how painting or sculpture is today.

Bolipata will also be exhibiting a film that she made in New York and some of her other short films to be viewed on smartphones around her installation. Her installation expands upon “Little Red Riding Hood,” introducing new characters in great detail. She aims to put up an exhibition not only as a visual feast for viewers to come play in, but as a relevant part of the larger discourse on women, tackling issues such as sexual harassment and coming-of-age.

Aside from her extensive “Little Red Riding Hood” installation, Bolipata also introduces a limited-edition art capsule at Art Fair Philippines titled “Plet-in-a-box.” This capsule illustrates and encompasses her essence as an artist, depicting her hopes and dreams for herself and for her art.

Art, for Bolipata, is concerned with truth, beauty, and sincerity. It is anything that a person’s imagination is able to create. She hopes to return back to painting and pick up the brush sometime this year, and aside from working on her Art Fair Philippines installation, she has also begun reworking on old works from her stay in New York. While she enjoys creating these massive playgrounds, she finds solace in painting. For her, the silence and stillness in the act of painting is what calls her back. Painting allows her to be introspective and in tune with herself.

Before then, though, we all have her colorful and eccentric installation to look forward to at  Art  Fair Philippines. She describes her artistic process as, “I live in my own little world — but it’s okay, they know me here.” From metal elephants to crocheted cats, it’s exciting to see what kind of world Bolipata has created for us this time.