As part of their National Service Training Program (NSTP) requirements, two students from the College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines Diliman created artwork interpretations of Chikang Bayi episodes. This assignment was conceptualized by the students themselves. Sensitive to the different capacities of people to cope with the pandemic, FemmeLab observes flexibility in its engagements with students, allowing them to set their own contributions and timelines after an orientation about the work that we do.
We are publishing their submitted artworks and reflections with their consent.
Feminist organizations and gender advocates can use the artworks for advocacy free of charge. Proper attribution to the artist is requested. Send us an email at femmelabph@gmail.com to get hi-resolution copies of the artworks.
Emerson
Emerson’s artworks were inspired by the album cover of Kulayan Natin by Munimuni. For this task, Emerson tried to step away from his usual style to match the lighter mood of Chikang Bayi: “Kadalasan ang mga artworks ko ay madilim kaya sinubukan kong mag-add ng ibang colors, and pag-illuminate sa isang subject para mas madaling ma-pinpoint ito."
On Episode 1: Adik sa F
Letter F symbol kasama yung equal sign, dahil yung episode po ay about sa mga feminist movement and kadalasan na-mimisinterpret ang mga feminist na gusto nila mas maging angat ang kababaihan kaysa sa iba pang genders ngunit ang totoong peminista ay pinaglalaban ang pagiging pantay ng mga ito. Naisip ko din na mabubuo lamang ang mga Feminist movement dahil lubos nilang naiintindihan kung ano ang pinaglalaban nila which is “equality”.
On Episode 2: You Go, Girl!
Yung episode ay tungkol sa kung ano ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ng pinaka-pagiging powerful ng kababaihan, kung “sino” ba ang maituturing na halimbawa. Kaya pinaghalo ko po ulit yung dalawang symbols, makikita ang female symbol at question mark sa artwork.
On Episode 6: Juanang Luma-love-an sa gitna ng pandemya
Dahil tungkol ang episode sa mga experiences na pinagdaanan during the pandemic, pinili kong gamitin subject ang mirasol o sunflower na nasa gitna ng gabi dahil maihahalintulad ko ito sa mga pinagdaanan nating lahat sa gitna ng pandemya. Patuloy tayong lumalaban, kahit wala tayo sa tamang sitwasyon, hinihintay ang pag-asa na parang isang mirasol na pinagdadaanan ang pinakamahabang gabi habang inaantay ang araw.
Joanna
Joanna’s artworks display her strength in figurative art through realistic representations of women as she imagines them from the the podcast episodes. The drawings below are her art interpretations of Episode 3: The “A” Word, and of Episode 4: Dear Time’s Up Ateneo, respectively.
On Episode 3: The “A” Word
I wanted to show here assertion of a woman over her own being or her own body. The perspective I drew her in is like she is looking down upon the viewer—to show that she has power over herself and she will not let herself be dictated by other people’s expectations.
On Episode 4: Dear Time’s Up Ateneo
This episode talked about sexual harassment and being sexist towards women due to patriarchy, and how women are policed for their behaviour and how they should look/act. In this drawing I wanted to show a woman who is posing and wearing clothes that are seen as “not ideal” and if a woman looks like this, it means she can be harassed. I wanted to show how women should feel powerful and comfortable in whatever they want to wear and how they want to act, because it is their own bodies.
On Episode 5: Magandang Simula
This episode discusses beauty standards and how flaws are seen as not ideal or ugly. Here, I drew three physical appearances that are considered “flaws” and that are mentioned in the episode as well. The first one is stretch marks, the second is morena skin, and the third is being chubby/fat. But women should love who they are and that looks aren’t everything.
Emerson Ebreo is an aspiring student artist from the UP Diliman College of Fine Arts. He explores and experiments with different art styles through the use of oil painting medium by creating social realistic and surrealistic pieces. He was a finalist in Shell NSAC, MACC and Robinson’s Artablado painting competitions.
Joanna Abigail Nolasco is currently a student of the University of the Philippines Diliman, studying Painting in the College of Fine Arts. She aspires to be an illustrator and a full time painter. Her works mainly consist of figurative art, and uses ink and watercolours as her main medium. You may reach her at: joanolascoart@gmail.com