A one of a kind convergence of visual artists and collaborative artworks never seen in Clark or Pampanga yet. Thanks to a good friend Sue Morales, a fellow Kapampangan from Bangcal, Guagua, because soon our eyes will feast over hundreds of artworks to be displayed at the Clark Parade Grounds. Not to mention, fresh collaborative creations from Kapampangan artists and student artists from the different schools in Pampanga will be featured as well.
Sue is the inventor and owner of Klaypel, a unique art medium made of recycled paper. It is basically clay made of paper, thus the witty play of the Pinoy phrase “Klay na gawa sa papel” or Klaypel. It is purely a Pinoy pride being the only patented product of its kind in Asia. Klaypel has DIY art kits that can be bought in hundreds of National Bookstores and Papemelroti outlets.
Now celebrating its 17th year, Klaypel gives back to Pinoys by launching KlaypelLand, both an arts venue and an event highlighting the grandest blast of colors from the collaboration of hundreds of artists from all over the country, including artists from Pampanga.
KlaypelLand is happening at the Clark Parade Grounds from November 30 until December 31.Klaypel will install five giant hexagonal art mazes with an area of 500 square meters each. Two of the giant art mazes will be the exhibit venue for the Usbong artworks. These are hundreds of art pieces from all over the country and entries in the Usbong National Arts Contest earlier launched by Klaypel.
Klaypel artists from Tacloban and Metro Manila will also exhibit their own Usbong pieces. Meanwhile, Klaypel opened a new competition for all student artists in 17 universities, colleges and private high schools in Pampanga. Each of the participating schools will be given five 4x8 ft art panels to render their best collaborative artwork. Their creations will be featured in two of the other mazes inside KlaypelLand.
And there is more. Kapampangan artists led by Ramcos Nulud, the newest face and ambassador of Klaypel, will also exhibit their works in one of the art mazes. They will also create collaborative art pieces that are expected to showcase Kapampangan artistry and creativity.
The colorful parade of artworks is not the only attraction though. Klaypel is bringing in musical performers that will serenade and rock the nights at KlaypelLand. Our very own Kapampangan bands will join Manila beats including Ramcos Nulud’s Bogus Band, Chew the Cud, Wayback, RedOrchids, Funkabalen (SOJ), and Sentri.
Kapampangan food celebrities and fashion designers will also have their own stage during the month-long festival. There will also be a celebration of Kapampangan arts and culture from December 1 to 4 featuring Kamaru, Caragan, Binulu and Kambal festival parades.
Going back to Klaypel’s newest ambassador - Ramcos Nulud. Last November 3 during the Pampanga Press Club’s KapiHan at Hann Casino Resort, Ramcos was officially introduced by Klaypel.
Sue said that Ramcos was chosen as the endorser of KlaypelLand to inspire and encourage Kapampangan artists to participate in the biggest convergence of creative minds this year.
According to her, Klaypel is all about fun, joy, love and colorful ideas. They are proudly Pinoy and they promote Filipino artistry and creativity. Sue said Ramcos is definitely Klaypel. “His life, his works, and his art is an embodiment of what Klaypel is,” she added.
Nulud is a known singer and performer. He was a band leader and vocalist for the Nora Aunor’s Fans Club, a rock band that became a national finalist to the SMB ReDHorse Muziklaban during the early 2000. Today, he is performing solo with 30 original songs uploaded at Spotify. He started his musis when he was 12 and was mentored by Danny “Don Sepat” Robillos.
In 2008, director Jason Paul Laxamana conceptualized an album of Kapampangan rock songs – titled “RocKapampangan: The Birth of Philippine Kapampangan Rock” and Nulud with hid band, interpreted the song “Kapalas”.
He is also a visual artist. He started drawing characters for comic books under Atlas Publishing. At 19, Nulud had his own pocketbook series “Cookie” and in the year 2000, he tried his hand in animation. Among his projects were “The Little Mermaid” (2008), “Lilo and Stitch “and “My Little Pony” (2012-2013), going from traditional to flash animation during his 15-year stint in the industry.
He was also commissioned by a fellow Kapampangan composer and poet Jose Irwin Nucum to help illustrate a children’s book titled “Iniang Malati Ku”. He drew 240 illustrations, which were described to have enriched the stories depicted in the book.
He had his first solo exhibit at the Nova Gallery in Makati in 2018, where his artworks were sold out. In 2019, he held his 2nd solo exhibit at the 1576 in Bacolor, Pampanga and at the Fashion Interiors in Makati in 2022. He is also part of numerous group exhibits, including “The Heart of Central Luzon: Art Exhibit” initiated by the Laus Group of Companies in 2021, and the latest, called “Kalalangan Katimauan” (Art for Peace and Freedom), which opened at the MarQuee Mall in Angeles City on Sept. 5, 2022.