Art blooms all over Cubao X again

‘A lot of galleries have left Cubao X, and we’re trying to continue the culture and tradition of art in Cubao, as this was what made the venue so popular and loved,’ said artistTof Zapanta, one of the organizers of the local art festival ‘Bloom.’

 When Tof Zapanta, a senior designer and art director at an advertising agency in Manila, politely dodged my question, “What is art for you?” I guess I appreciated that he didn’t even attempt to bullshit that one for me. Maybe he was already tired of beautifying in the business of overselling?

Tof, along with Samantha Samonte, and members of Designers of Asia Anjo Bolarda, Juanito Maiquez, Vincent Aseo, Clarissa Gonzalez, Raf Banzuela, and EJ Dalupang are the people behind “Bloom,” a local art festival that will exhibit the works of more than 70 of the country’s most exciting and visible artists and designers. The event will bring together young talent from all types of mediums, to bring to life one of Manila’s art spaces, Cubao X, and to celebrate a budding art culture, which is bursting with flair.

 “A lot of galleries have left Cubao X, and we’re trying to continue the culture and tradition of art in Cubao X, as this was what made the venue so popular and loved,” says Tof. 

Tof luck: Artist Tof Zapanta is one of the organizers of the exhibit tipped to bring back Cubao X’s art scene.

Whether “Bloom” is Tof’s personal love letter to the art space, we will never know. But the motivation to keep the spirit of Cubao X alive brought together a diverse and huge number of artists who share the same vision. On September 29, Cubao X will become a gallery showcasing Manila’s up and coming artists, designers, sculptors, illustrators, directors, and much more.

“The idea was to bring together artists from different genres and forms of art, and group them based on aesthetics, look and feel, into the different stores in Cubao X who agreed to participate. These are some of the most exciting and visible creatives today which makes this show overwhelming and awe-inspiring.”

For Tof and the people behind “Bloom,” everything is running on the immeasurable fuel of for-the-love-of. “And I think you can only go so far with only that,” says Tof with a small laugh. “But ideally, we want this to be an annual celebration of art and design, invading different art-filled venues and doing the same thing—simultaneous exhibits and performances showcasing the work of the country’s top artists and designers.”

I only asked Tof to tell me what art meant for him, not to seek a definite answer, but only to understand what exactly an art festival would be celebrating. But there is no need to complicate when art should spark feelings for themselves. And a gathering as big as Bloom should be able to relay exactly what it is about: to be overflowing and at awe with all sorts of inspiration, giving due recognition to skilled artists, an appreciation of passions, and mostly just loads of fun.

Check out some of the flourishing artists who will be exhibited in “Bloom.” With the list now close to a hundred, be sure to drop by tomorrow, September 29 at Cubao X and be in awe of the talent of our young budding art scene. Entrance is free. We feature seven here but also part of the show are painters Jason Moss, Zeus Bascon, Allan Balisi, Carina Santos, Dex Fernandez and Ronald Caringal. We also have illustrators such as Dan Matutina, Soleil Ignacio, JP Cuison, Manix Abrera, Anjo Bolarda, Aseo, and a whole lot more. We have designers and studios Inksurge, Electrolychee, Team Manila, Folk Superlative, Burnwater, AJ Dimarucot, Idkids, and more. Photographers BJ Pascual, Edric Chen, Gabby Cantero, Cholo de la Vega, Your Evil Twin, Paolo Ruiz, Shaira Luna, Charles Buenconsejo, and more. Toy designers Robotars, Kris Abrigo, Urban Toy Designers, and more. Animation and videos from Flux, Acid House Post, Arnold Arre, and more. There will also be live art performances by Ang Gerilya, Nemo, Cavity, Tigasouth, Nelz Yumul, Takako Sono, and more.

Mica Cabildo

Originally an illustrator, Mica Cabildo has created sculptures, installations, paintings, and has also worked on projects in participatory art, music, and graphic design. She was the original bassist of Terno Recordings band Sleepwalk Circus, and was one of the founders of art and design collective Folk Superlative. She has also been active in the Baguio art scene, following a short artist residency in Benguet.

Cj De Silva

Most popularly recognized as the “Promil Kid” or “The Gifted Child” after appearing in a popular TV ad campaign in 1998, Cj De Silva admits she has never stopped painting since she was five. Though she never took formal painting classes, Cj says she learned from the tutelage of her dad, an artist by heart.

Tokwa Penaflorida

Tokwa’s dreamlike works are the visualization of everything he is exposed to in daily life: from a line in a song to a sudden idea. His influences include art nouveau and fashion illustrations.

Kadin Tiu

Kadin says that the viewer’s perception of her works also influences how her works turn out in their own minds, as the things that are there and those that are not intertwine with those she wants you to see, and those she tries to hide.

May Ann Licudine

Born with a hearing impairment, May Ann has worked to overcome her deficiency and produce artworks that are shown and sold around the world. A visual artist, painter, sculptor and illustrator living in La Union, she is proud of a roster of awards and citations she has obtained since she was child. May Ann tries to tell a story with her images hoping that they can touch the heart of people and help them to keep dreaming and believe in magic.

Wiji Lacsamana

Wiji is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer who is now exploring the world of tattooing.

Marcus Nada

Co-founder of Electrolychee (a design and illustration studio), Marcus considers himself a pastiche-maker who loves to dabble on different art disciplines. He is an avid collector of analog devices, an illustrator of many children’s books, and a 2001 Gawad CCP recipient for his collaborative 35mm animated short film, Movements.