Skip to content

Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Features
Business
Places
Magazine
Illustrado300First released in 2015, Illustrado 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf (MIFG), is the definitive authority in the most significant Filipinos in the GCC. The listing is composed of gamechangers, trailblazers, thought leaders and tastemakers – all prominent personalities in diplomacy and government, business, corporate leadership, science and technology, communication, fashion and creative arts, social media, charitable endeavors and more, who have made an impact within and beyond the Filipino community in the region.
Fashion
Photography
Art u0026amp; Architecture
Videos

Tag: Artist Spotlight

Artist Spotlight: Edipolo Aggarao – Visual Artist

Artist Spotlight: Edipolo Aggarao – Visual Artist

My Art

My heart & soul is a fine artist, while my body & brain is a creative director, art director, designer and visualizer. My hands, eyes and other senses respond to both masters with the same fire and passion. As a fine artist, I am able to do and express whatever I desire. I love painting. I love the smell of oil and paint and turpentine. They give me such orgasmic high better than any drug or woman can. Touching the texture of the canvas makes me feel like I’m touching heaven. Every brush stroke, every layer of paint gives me that feeling of an amazing new discovery. Like a child with a new magical toy. It’s like breathing life to the canvas. Knowing that once it’s brought to life, this one will live forever.

My (non)Process

I have no particular process in my creations. Although the human figure seems to always titillate my imagination. Nude is something I do most of the time. I like doing the human figure in its most natural form. The skeleton, the muscles, the form… the nooks and crannies of the human figure… those are the things that inspire me. The human figure is an art by itself.

My oil portraits are done to look like oil paintings. Although I can easily do portraits that will look as real as photograph, I make sure I do my paintings the way an oil painting should be done. Lots of visible brush strokes. Nothing I do comes close as what a camera does.

Artist Spotlight: Edipolo Aggarao – Visual Artist

My Journey

I remember that the first thing I learned to do with a pencil and paper was to draw. That was before I even stepped into school. In school, my teachers used to ask me to do their classroom visual aids or draw on the blackboard for them. Word spread around and it wasn’t long before the top artists in our small town took notice and that’s how my art journey began. I further honed my skills by taking up Fine Arts major in Advertising at the University of Santo Tomas enjoying full scholarship PLUS a regular recipient of half scholarships by making it to the Dean’s List.

My art has taken me this far. It has given me so much. I have passed through glass ceilings. And in the process, I have changed the lives of so many budding artists. From Bahrain to Jeddah to Dubai. My journey has always been colorful. My paintings and drawings have found their spot in loving homes across the globe.

Back in the early days in Dubai, I founded an art group called LIPAD (League of Pilipino Artists in Dubai) with some friends for which I was voted the president. The group had been very successful. We gave free art lessons, free art materials and free snacks to kids every Friday.

A few months ago, I met with a mix of seasoned and budding Filipino artists based in Dubai to form a new art group we called 2PM (the name was taken from the call time we set for the meeting) and it is open to all artists in visual and performing arts. Plans are aplenty. Enthusiasm is high and we have great expectations on the future of this new group to showcase every aspect of the Filipino talent.

Aside from this, I spend most of my Fridays as a volunteer trainer for Kabayan Non-Profit Organization, teaching Graphic Design, Figure Drawing, Portrait Oil Painting and assistant trainer in Photography and Adobe Illustrator.

My advice to aspiring artist

Keep creating, keep exploring and keep believing. The world is your stage.

Follow Edipolo on his social media platforms!

www.facebook.com/kabayannonprofitorg

www.facebook.com/groups/worldartistsnet

_______________________________________________________________________

Related Post:

Artist Spotlight: Jonathan Benitez – Painter

Artist Spotlight: Kimberly Reyes Filipino Visual Artist

Artist Spotlight: Nathaniel Alapide, Painter & Sand Artist

Save

Save

December 7, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Jonathan Benitez – Painter

Artist Spotlight: Jonathan Benitez

My Art

My art is about portraits of people and figures – oftentimes taken out of context, from ordinary to unknown entities, deconstructed and appropriated and juxtaposed on fragments of collage surfaces. My aim is to connect the relative essence of man and his relationship with other living organisms, their common traits, fragility and impermanence.

For me, art is not an occupation – it’s an advocacy. It’s a role given to me to help open the eyes of my audience or community about realities that may not be obvious to them; to orient them with the fact that there is more to life than just trying to get what you can get. We all have our roles in the society, and mine just happens to be that of a culture bearer. I live in a place where environmental advocacy is strong; I help reflect this in my art.

My Process

I have a strong fascination with figures and how they are affected in a given environment. I am inspired by my hometown’s lush vegetation. My world is populated with plants, wildlife, entities from folklores immersed in contentment while living in harmony with man. I believe man’s behavior is influenced by his surroundings, and in turn, the surroundings are influenced by man’s presence. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

My temperament rests well with water based mediums and paints. I like to see fast results so I could manipulate my composition whilst my excitement is at a high. Most times, I do not make a study – I just work with a reference, be it an image from the net, from a magazine, or a photo I snapped with my phone. It’s exciting for me to see how ideas manifest themselves through a mix of intuition and accident.

My collage is a commentary on commercial advertising, which is a form of art with the purpose of capturing the minds of the viewer by showing a variation of truth. I utilized printed images, the glossy fashion magazines and books and all available sources. Ready-made images are codes, which are very potent in illustrating an idea. Their meaning, however, is the product of corporate manipulation. Our society is bombarded with it commercial mages every day, dictating how we should behave. This is where I engage the conversation with my art – my point of departure.

Artist Spotlight: Jonathan Benitez

My Journey, so far…

I am one of the pioneers of contemporary art in my island of Palawan in the Philippines. I curate and organize art shows and events there, while showing my art regularly in Manila galleries. I represented the Philippines in the Peace and Art Festival in Uba, Brazil in 2014. My artwork was exhibited in Germany and Portugal. My art is featured in the prestigious Manila Art, an annual art fair in the country.

I hope to expand t the reach of my art as wide as possible – to reach to a larger audience that and represent Filipino art on a global scale.

Message to aspiring artists

For those who wish to pursue art: be honest with yourself and follow your own voice. Nothing beats a well-articulated vision fueled by passion and personal experience.

Follow Jonathan on his social media platforms!

https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.s.benitez

https://www.facebook.com/tibur78

Photo credit: Katherine Jack

PULL QUOTE:

For me, art is not an occupation – it’s an advocacy. It’s a role given to me to help open the eyes of my audience or community about realities that may not be obvious to them; to orient them with the fact that there is more to life than just trying to get what you can get.

_______________________________________________________________________

Related Post:

Artist Spotlight: SONIQ DJ DUO Filipino DJ

Artist Spotlight: Kimberly Reyes Filipino Visual Artist

Artist Spotlight: APE CREATIVE Design

Save

Save

December 2, 2016
Artist Spotlight: SONIQ DJ DUO Filipino DJ

SONIQ

DJ DUO

What we do

CARL: Being a DJ isn’t just about blending 2 or more songs together, it’s about having that sense of passion with music. It’s very important to have that distinctive taste that will somewhat “brand” you different among others. Let’s admit it: there are a lot of famous DJ’s out there who are more experienced than we are, but I’d say the “identity” of our music makes us “different.” We specialize in Dirty House, Tribal house & Afro house. Genres as such can only be heard live in music festivals and massive events that do require the specific genre. So penetrating the regular night scene makes everything way more interesting than playing your regular favorite song on repeat.

JAY: For me, being a DJ is really all about your love for music. Once you have this down, everything else will flow. You won’t even realize how much time you’ve spent on practicing and mixing. Playing in the morning would feel just as right as when you play late at night. It’s more than just performing for the crowd; it’s being with them in the journey to euphoria. As a DJ duo, Carl and I collaborate on ideas to see what works and what doesn’t, to see which mixes make sense and which ones we need to scrap. We like to play tribal house music. Something you don’t usually hear in clubs, but is definitely a banger.

How we got into it

CARL: I have always been fascinated by the idea of being a DJ. When I came here in the UAE, I met a seasoned DJ named Andrew who introduced me to the scene and eventually became my mentor. It was overwhelming at first, since I never really thought that I had the potential for it. He taught me the basics, and I found myself hooked with the whole concept. Then I met my fellow DJ “Jay” who works in the same frequency of insanity as I do. Hence, Soniq was born, and the decks became our second home.

JAY: Stress! Yup, because of stress! Working can be toxic at times so I figured there has got to be a way to beat it. One of my close friends, Red, suggested I try DJ’ing. So I got my first mini DJ controller, learned how to play and I was hooked. I couldn’t stop playing. It felt good. A few months later I was introduced to Andrew who handles gigs and club events. He encouraged me to try out playing for crowds to get a feel for it and he invested his time teaching me more about DJ’ing. Andrew later introduced me to Carl who was also a DJ. We got along well so we decided to form a duo.

How we do it

CARL: I can’t say I have a formula or “process” that I stick to. Everywhere I go, whether I’m listening to my usual playlist or accidentally stumbling into a new tune, I always tend to dissect and mix tracks in my head. We come to gigs armed with specific repertoires as our own “music library” for the night, but we often change things up on the spot and do most of the mixing live on decks. Spontaneity is key!

JAY:   It’s all about listening to music day in and day out, exposing myself to different genres all the time so I get ideas and inspirations on what songs to play. When I find songs that interest me, I add it to my current playlist. I usually play around with it by mixing it with 2 to 3 songs to see where it fits. Once I feel the vibe, I share it with Carl to get his input. When we both agree that it’s something that we can work with, we put it on hold in our regular playlist and wait for the right moment to play it.

Our journey, thus far

CARL: It’s cool how in such a short time span, we came from just practicing at home, into doing events and regular gigs. We like playing for small, private gatherings where the vibe is very intimate and tribal, but we also like playing for packed houses, such as the one that we had in our first gig in Mint Leaf, and the crowds that we get every Wednesday in Warehouse, at Le Meridien Al Garhoud.

JAY:   I would have to say one of the major highlights we’ve had was our first gig at Mint Leaf London, Sheikh Zayed. We were simply duo Dj’s who loved to play. We were fresh out of the oven so it was an awesome surprise that we had the place packed.

Advice to aspiring DJ’s

CARL: Always be brave and bold in doing what you’ve always wanted to do. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself. And yes, the only way to prove oneself is to better thyself.

JAY: Enjoy what you’re doing. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it’s part of life. Take risks. Grab opportunities. Ignore the critics. As the saying goes “Let whoever think whatever. Just keep getting better.” J

Follow Soniq!

Facebook.com/Soniq2k

Instagram.com/soniqmusic

PULL QUOTE

Being a DJ is really all about your love for music. Once you have this down, everything else will flow.

Related Post:

Artist Spotlight: Lakshmi Ramirez – Filipino Musician

Artist Spotlight: Isa Tabasuares – Singer-Songwriter in Berlin

Artist Spotlight: WYWY Band

Save

Save

November 16, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Kimberly Reyes Filipino Visual Artist

Kimberly F.A.R. aka Evo / EvoNano / Evo917

Visual Artist

My Art

I first got into drawing in around 2006. I was a huge fan of Sonic around that time, so most of my drawings back then revolved around drawing most of the cast – and some fan-characters.

Starting out as an introverted traditional artist, I originally resorted to doing artworks to express my personality and love for a multitude of inspirations. I’ve come to love it as it has become part of who I am. After developing experience with digital artworks, my passion grew along with my talents.

Generally, I try to give my works a strong, yet harmonious palette with bold lines to differentiate background from character. I’m not one to do a lot of research, but I do pick up a lot of things I encounter on the internet. As a person who is a sucker for a little symbolism, I tend to incorporate a lot of smaller additions into a piece so that if you spend time looking at my works, you can figure out a story hiding behind them.

My Process

Most of the time, inspiration comes to me spontaneously. I’m more attracted by darker or more unique themes like Alice: Madness Returns or Undertale. I never start with a refined artwork for one thing; it’s always very rough till the coloring phase. I picked up my artistic habits from a Riot Games artist that goes by the name Kienan Lafferty. Once I like how the overall image is going, that’s when I go for the coloring and rendering phase. It’s incredibly tedious, yet I find the rendering to be the best part.

My journey thus far

Some of the main highlights of my art career were the first two conventions I participated in. Honestly, the first convention isn’t something to write home about, as the event turnout was quite low. But despite the poor attendance, I did get a lot of fantastic feedback from the folks who visited my stand. My second convention participation was at Middle East Film & Comic-Con 2016 (MEFCC2016). That was when my reputation as an artist skyrocketed.

Future plans

I have been planning this one story which temporarily goes by the name ‘D.Play’. I’ve spent about 7 years trying to develop the story, and I aim to publish it as a webcomic sometime in the future once I complete my college degree.

My advice to aspiring artists

The best advice I’ll ever give is that whenever you look at someone else’s art, you mustn’t downgrade yourself by comparing yourself to them. Instead, look at them as your inspiration to develop your talents. The only thing you should ever compare yourself to is your past self; so you can see your own progress. Keep those old drawings of yours for that reason!

Follow Kimberly F.A.R. on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Evo917

Photo Credit: Anna Castillo

Related Post:

Artist Spotlight: Eugene Cubillo Filipino Visual Artist & Painter

Artist Spotlight: Joshua Corpuz – Visual Artist

Artist Spotlight: APE CREATIVE Design Collective

Save

Save

November 15, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Lakshmi Ramirez – Filipino Musician

Artist Spotlight: Lakshmi Ramirez – 36 yo

My Style

Since 1999, I have been obsessed with the vintage era from the 20’s to the 50s. From fashion, music, cars, & furniture. I collect vintage hand painted silk ties, hats, shoes, braces (suspenders), clothes, and vinyls. My music is from the Trad Jazz of the New Orleans, Big Bands, Jump Blues, Rockabilly, Western Swing, and Doo Wop. Why do you love it? It just adds colour to everyday life. dressing up uniquely with vintage clothes that you don’t normally people wearing around you , greasing up my hair with pomade, listening to music from my vinyl collections.

My family inspires me and people around me to create music. I just want to show and reintroduce the era’s music to the younger crowd.

I wouldn’t say my music is an original style, but being influenced by Western Americana music and the Filipino’s Kundiman Music, I can say my original songs are distinct.

What have been highlights in your journey as an artist so far? Please share stories, significant events, exhibitions, developments, etc. –

As a musician, I am very fortunate to work with International and Local artist, either playing live or recording. Launching our self titled album “The Fabulous Bembol Rockers” was one of the highlights, performing in different music festivals around the world. And knowing that we, The Bembol Rockers, were invited to Las Vegas for Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, and my other UAE based band The Swing Revue nominated in Dubai for the best live act.

What’s your hope/plan for the future (in connection to your art)?

I hope to create more swinging and rockin music that can make people happy

Any advice you wish to share with others who wish to pursue their art?

Love what you do and don’t let anyone stop you from doing it!!!

Save

Save

Save

October 12, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Isa Tabasuares – Singer-Songwriter in Berlin

Artist Spotlight:

Isa Tabasuares

Singer-Songwriter in Berlin

“Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong in life and love, when this happens, make good art’, says the famous writer Neil Gaiman, and this is exactly how 37-year old, Berlin-based singer-songwriter Isa Tabasuares found her salvation in music and the arts.

My Journey

I have been in Berlin for nearly a decade. I got accepted to Charite Univertiätsmedizin Berlin to study Masters of Nursing Science. Right after I graduated, I had the opportunity to do my Phd in the same university but halfway through, in 2013, I realized that I wanted to write more about my heartaches than to write scientifically. I was going through a bad break up. Everyday my heart wants to write songs and paint. I guess that is how I found my path in music and arts and why I ended up in the company of talented creative people here in Berlin. This city is just the right place to grow as an artist.

My Music

I enjoy a lot of pop and I love listening to jazz legends such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, so I guess I can consider them as some of my main influences. For my first album “The Mess I Have Made”, I have collaborated with a good friend and an award-winning Swedish singer songwriter, Siri Svegler. The songs are about the beautiful experiences of love and the growing pains that come with it. I recorded my album here in Berlin with my producer, Moritz Ecker. There are 9 original songs and one rendition of the song ‘Wag Na Lang Kaya’ by True Faith.

My Personal Milestones

Aside from working with Siri and Moritz on my soon-to-be released debut, I have also had the honor to play with some very talented jazz musicians her in Germany. I once shared the stage and opened a couple of shows for the brilliant British-Filipino singer-songwriter Mishka Adams here in Berlin. That was an awesome experience.

In 2013, I visited the Philippines. This was the year I transitioned to music. I found myself singing for peace and the environment. I was on tour with the legendary Fantuzzi , Kate Torralba and my friends, Siri Svegler and Thomas Walter and other artists from Spain, New York and the Philippines like Waway Saway.

My Plans

Right now we are busy preparing for the release of the album. I am collaborating with Hineleban Foundation back home. They are a group of people who are dedicated to reforest, restore and enhance the Philippine environment. For every album I sell is a tree planted in the Philippines. When I went back home in 2013, I learned that there is less than 2% left of our rain forest. I find this really sad and felt the need to get involved. Check out their website: http://hineleban.org/

I have a couple of solo gigs coming up as well. Kate Torralba and I will have a back to back concert soon in Berlin and then the record release party. I would also love to collaborate with a lot of my Filipino friends back home that are so talented and full of creative ideas.

My Advise

Be true to oneself. Try not to compare yourself with others. Let it flow and just be!

Watch out for Isa’s debut album , soon to be released in Germany and the Philippines.

Follow her on facebook : www.facebook.com/isatabasuares

To check out more of her beautiful tunes: https://soundcloud.com/isa-tabasuares

Save

Save

October 1, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Nathaniel Alapide, Painter & Sand Artist

My Journey

My fascination with creativity started when I was around 9-10 years old. My father brought home an art book that contained the works of Picasso, Monet, Matisse and all the other great painters. It really piqued my interest as a young kid, so I began to research more about them and their works. Then a whole new dimension of imagination opened itself up for me. I started to express myself by drawing and painting, just like the artists that I was studying, and I was hooked!

My Art

I’ve been painting since I was young, but I only got into sand art 2 years ago. I’ve always loved going to the beaches here in Dubai early in the morning, and I would always find myself staring at the contrast between the loose sand and the compacted sand that would always appear after the tide has receded. Then one day I realized that it is possible to use it as a canvas, so I started drawing on it and it felt good!

My Process

The process of creating works on sand is therapeutic. I have 2 ways of creating my sand art: the first one is where I prepare a drawing that will serve as my guide. The second one is where I just go by intuition – this is the method that I enjoy more.

The most common question that people ask me is how I get the symmetry right, especially with the size of the artwork. The way I do it, I imagine myself from the ground slowly going up and sort of growing along with the artwork, while I visualize how it changes. This would be similar to painting, where you have to step back every now and then to look at the bigger picture. My sand murals are not always perfectly symmetrical, but just like in life, I just have to look at it from the right angle, and then it would seem perfect to me.

As for my paintings, I find it hard to start with a clean, blank canvas so what I do is paint a thin layer of paint on it and just play by doing bold strokes – then I can begin with the main theme of the painting.

My Inspiration

Inspiration is everywhere and present every time. You just have to keep yourself open to them. Currently, I am the only one drawing large-scale murals here in Dubai. My art form is different because you can see it outside in public, not inside galleries or hotels or museums. It’s a lot more communal. I make sure to bring extra rakes, so people can get their hands in on the art as well.

I think it’s the ephemeral nature of the sand art that makes it really compelling. Seeing something so beautiful, and then realizing that it will soon be washed away by the tide – there is that feeling of happiness and sadness at the same time. Not a lot of artwork can give you this kind of emotion, and not a lot of artists can produce it – which is why I take it as a huge honor to be employed by Jumeirah Beach Hotel as a full time sand artist and painter. It’s like a dream come true! I am also currently working on 2 exhibitions, which I am really excited about as well.

My Advice to Aspiring Artists

Just keep doing what you’re doing and never stop learning new things. Learn to value the person that your art is helping you to become. That is art’s greatest reward.

Save

September 26, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Eugene Cubillo Filipino Visual Artist & Painter

I am Eugene Cubillo

My art is a visual diary – an extension of myself and my experiences. Most of my works are in mixed media. This allows me to address different issues in a storytelling manner whilst giving myself more creative freedom. The challenge of using mixed media is part of my statement. It represents my commentaries and observations on the crucial issues that beset our society today. It helps me to manifest how I perceive the Filipino culture in my head– where it is now, and where I feel it is headed to.

My Journey

I’ve always loved drawing. One time when I was a kid, drew myself as a stick figure playing basketball in every page of my notebook. I remember how surprised I was when I flipped the pages and saw the stick figure moving. Hindi ko alam na animation pala yun! So when I grew older, I took up my first ever job as an in-betweener/clean-up or assistant animator in an animation studio. In college, I studied Computer Engineering for almost two years, but eventually shifted to Fine Arts and Design. By then, I started getting exposed and introduced to different media and techniques. In the year 2000, I decided to work full time as a painter. It was very difficult at the beginning. At times, I had to choose between buying oil paint or buying milk for my child. Challenged by this circumstance, I came up with the idea of producing art from found objects. This allows me to sustain my art production, but still challenge my creativity. To supplement my income, I also conduct workshops on basic painting. I always remember to treat my art na parang babae na kailangang mahalin, bigyan ng oras, panahon at halaga para hindi magtampo, at pagkatapos nun ay mamahalin din ako ng art ko. Trust me: it works!

My Process

From being traditional, my work has evolved into my own unique hybrid art form. Combining different media frees me from the usual creative constraints. My inspiration tends to come from the mundane: everyday experiences that are often dismissed as boring or ordinary, such as commuting in trains, buses, and jeeps, meeting people at the streets, and neighbors chatting. My idea is to create a visual language that associates the object to an experience outside of its environment. My approach is representational and spontaneous. I use marks and texture in all (or some parts) of my artwork. The objective is to capture the essence, substance, and association between forms in order to suggest a deeper meaning and a sense of connectedness. In a way, I try to draw comparison through contrast – showing how two things can be similar even though they are wildly different from each other on the surface.

My Accomplishments, Thus Far

On top of winning some art competitions and participating in group shows, my most memorable experience is my first solo show entitled: Mga Barahang Ligaw, which I launched in 2011. My idea then was to use playing cards as a medium to express the notion that life is like a gamble. Since then, I’ve been doing solo shows every year, the last one having concluded on the 13^th of July 2016. I am now planning and conceptualizing for next year’s show.

My Advice to Aspiring Artists

Just love what you are doing. Enjoy it as best you can. When the struggles come, make them your strength. Attend art exhibitions and connect with other artists. Learn from them.

Save

Save

August 10, 2016
Artist Spotlight: Cholo Juan

CHOLO JUAN

Visual Artist and Graphic Designer

I take my art as a journey to every aspect of the human condition and experience. The part that I love the most about it is the experimentation and the process – the process which helps me awaken the subconscious.

I grew up in a family of artists and found great passion for art, music, film, and almost everything creative. I officially started my career when I joined the artist collective Brownmonkeys back in 2009. They were the ones who helped me develop my art, especially since I didn’t have any formal art background.

I think being “different” is overrated. Every art form has in one way or another, been inspired by everything else. That’s how the wheel of creativity works. I think what is important is finding the balance of staying true to your craft while still being open to view others’ works as a source of inspiration.

Cholo Juan’s work can be viewed at FN Designs – Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz Dubai. He is also planning for his solo art exhibition next year.

Save

Save

Save

June 28, 2016

←Previous Page

1 2

Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Championing the World Class Filipino – Pinoy life across the globe.

Blog
About
FAQs
Authors

Events
Shop
Patterns
Themes

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress