SENSE OF SIGHT : My Sister & I

Kahlil's "My Sister & I" clearly stood out from the rest of the sets. Maybe because it wasn't typical, or it surprises the audience with its technique. But I think it is because he taps reality boldly. It is such an honor to be part of his project. Well done Kahlil!

Sense of Sight : Photography Exhibition

Last month, I got a call from a friend asking me if I do modeling job. Are you kidding me?? I thought it he was just making a funny hi-hello-kumusta intro and maybe just looking for a design-related help. Apparently he was serious: He was looking for a 16-year old female for his photography project. This has got to be a joke.

Of course I couldn't say yes. I mean I would put shame to his project if I would look my age and the fact that I was lying about my age might get me into trouble!

I soon found out that this is going to be for an exhibition/competition for Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (DUCTAC) to support and creatively challenge local artistic talent and to promote the importance of regular eye screening.

Pretty cool eh? SENSE OF SIGHT as it is called.

3 - 24 February 2010

And so Kahlil gave me his vision:

"To go about this, I'd have a loose narrative about a woman in her thirties who creates a photo album about her older sister's life spanning 20 years. To create these pictures in her mind, she will have to rely on her memories about her sister and how the world looked like when she was still able to see. In effect, the sister will have grown up from teenager to adult without looking any older than how the woman remembers her. Also, the world will become more and more colorful as the years pass on as the woman's memories fail her and her imagination fill in the gaps."

With that idea, I just had to do it. It was clever and I can imagine the creativity unfolding. Besides, I then realized, it wasn't really about me being 16 years old and deceiving the viewers - it was me being part of something unique and exciting.

The session was easy. Well you know, I didn't wear any makeup and my hair's not in it's proper manners - so it looks like I'm very raw. We finished shooting within two saturdays and I sure hope I pulled it altogether. I hope the photographer, one of my most admired shutterbugs, did not regret in taking me. It was all fun and all good having friends come over our home.

Lastly, I hope he wins! Go Kahlil!

Dpict Illustration Exhibition : illustrators catalog

Joanne Brooker (British) | Danexh Mohiuddin (Indian)

Jacob Hernandez (Mexican) | Luis Vazquez (Mexican)

Sasan Saidi (German-Iranian) | Govinda Trazo (Filipino)

Mark Ganzon (Filipino) | Christopher Howlett (British)

Liz Ramos (Peruvian) | Khalid Mezaina (Emirati)

Maria Neschetna (Ukrainian) | German Fernandez Gantos (Peruvian)

Guillermo Munro (Mexican) | Emma Pinkerton (South African)

Dpict Illustration Exhibition : the opening

The opening starts at 7 but so far, the hall seems to be quiet. Suddenly I wished my friends in cebu were here, it would've been warmer and all fun.

I have brought my journals and postcards for sale from papersandtschai. They look happy. Oops. They're upside down! Wait let's fix this... and I need to put my iamgovinda cards.

Finally, Erik arrives. We had all the time looking at each piece of work, realizing that some are quite humorous, some are innovative, but most of them are really amazing. I'm going to do a separate post about them.

After two years of chasing each other's schedule, we finally meet again!!! I was so thrilled to see Chichux last night. I hugged her like crazy. Nothing has changed really - I'm still gamay and she's still slim as ever. Well ok except for one thing: she already has the coolest tattoo on her left foot.

I met some monkeys. Not in a racist way of saying it, I really did, they say they're the Brown Monkeys. They're really nice and typical pinoy-funny. They say I might join them soon. Well I can't wait to be a brown monkey! :)

We were getting hungry so we head out to the foodcourt to grab a pizza, spaghetti, burgers and fries. I'm so lucky to have these guys in Dubai! We hang out and had good laughs. Until I got a call from the exhibit. Ooops. Am I not suppose to eat yet?

When I got back, I met my husband's office mates and they were all very kind to me. I was glad to finally meet and have a quick chat with them. I had to make a tiny bit of doodle to complete the night then I'm home.

All in all, it was an interesting night. I met awesome people, finally get to meet my husband's friends, and made some people wonder at my works.

I'm not sure if this is the official photo of us. But here are some of us. That's me, in a red Gap Kids corduroy dress, brightly wounded in delightness.

wearing my heart out

I'm off to an illustration show!

iamgovinda merch

I'm planning to sell journals and postcards (from papersandtschai) with illustrations that match with the artworks that I will be displaying at the exhibit, Dpict. But there's still a lot of tending to do - like creating a whole deal of "packaging" with my label and some prices. And I'm running out of time. *Phew!

Ten Tickles : postcard

(old layout from POP III)

Ten Tickles : journal

(new layout, same species)

Imaginary Friends : postcard + journal

(new layout, old concept from GIRLALOO)

Scent Keeping : journal

(new layout, old concept from GIRLALOO)

Scent Keeping : postcard

(new layout, old concept from GIRLALOO)

I also got mini tags for free! I'm thinking of using them as my business cards. But it doesn't include any contact info. Tricky. Or maybe I can give them out as freebies that goes with the journal and call them mini bookmarks. I still have to figure these little babies out.

DPICT Illustration Exhibition

"Illustration brings words to life through visual representation, depicting reality in a recognisable form whilst delivering a clear and strong message. DPICT will explore this concept and will help to create a network among illustrators as they view each other’s work and initiate a dialogue about their common passion."

This is going to be my first ever exhibition outside Cebu. I'm thrilled, scared, and excited all at the same time. I'll be sending my framed artworks tomorrow. Yay!

Opening: 16 December 2009, 7pm

Exhibition runs until 7 January 2010

at the Gallery of Light, Manu Chhabria Arts Centre

DUCTAC, Level 2 MOE, Dubai

For more information call DUCTAC: 04 341 4777

or visit www.ductac.org

Timings:

9.00am - 10.00pm (saturday to thursday)

2.00pm - 10.00pm (fridays & holidays)

Ten Tickles in Watercolour, Pen and Ink

I decided to have it on a big watercolour board. (Sorry for the term "big". I still have to find that ruler!) My excitement was just too immense than my fear of a blank canvas that's almost taller than me.

After having laid every tickley creature for a week, the final and most delicate step was to work with ink to get that "perfect" splatter across the whole artwork. It was crazy-scary that my husband had to remind me not to get carried away.

This is "ten tickles" in watercolour, pen and ink all set for framing for my upcoming DUCTAC exhibit, "Dpict". I am fairly satisfied and overjoyed with the final output. It seems I like it better in paper than in digital. Maybe because it offers more risks and thrills and you can never rely on that magical cmd+Z. Looks like I might get a new - old - habit back.

Some details of the work:

View my other two works here.