THE fast-evolving technology, especially the popularity of social media, has also spurred both opportunities and challenges among Filipino artists including those in Negros Occidental.
For a seasoned Negrense visual artist Charlie Co, there are currently more “spaces and things” happening in order for the young generation of artists to navigate --– one is technological evolution.
Co, on the sidelines of the press conference on the 16th Biennale Visayas Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (Viva ExCon) in Bacolod City recently, said technology has enabled artists to make and send art pieces wherever they are, even in mountains.
“However, artists should have the experience of preparing a space for exhibition,” he said, adding that by just posting the artworks on social media limits the opportunity for the artists to really present themselves.
Agreeing to this, artist Manny Montelibano, also a Negrense, said social media has many downsides when it comes to promoting the art.
Montelibano said posting the works on social media sometimes limits the person --- the audience --- to take a look at the “real” artwork.
“They just based the artwork on what they see online which is not the real artwork,” he said, adding that “so it can be deceiving, it can be not as impressive as the real artwork.”
Other artists also have other perceptions toward the impact of technology in the local art landscape.
Jade Snow said some artists are somehow apprehensive to actually trust technology because it would be easy for others to use their works as collaterals.
“You won’t even get paid and acknowledged sometimes,” she said, adding that “this is something that artists need to deal with and navigate.”
For artist Moreen Austria, technology is a platform that enables Filipino artists to network with fellow artists even those outside the country.
There are lots of artists who use Instagram as a platform to sell their works, or getting them to be known, Austria said.
“Through networking, artists can get invitations from other countries,” she added.
These opportunities and challenges are just among the many issues and concerns hounding the local art scene that will be tackled during the five-day Viva ExCon to be held in Bacolod City on November 11 to 15 this year.
Co, who is the chairman of the event, earlier said the longest-running biennale artist-run exhibition and conference is a platform that has spurred positive impact to the local artists community.
Co said it has been giving more opportunity for “non-mainstream artists” and the venue for them to be seen, to show their works.
“The country’s economy is actually another factor that can be both an opportunity and challenge for the artists,” he said, explaining that there’s a better “market” for art five to 10 years ago.
“Who will survive? That’s a challenge,” the artist noted.