A new wave of environmental consciousness is sweeping across the artistic landscape of Cebu. Inspired by the urgency of the climate crisis, local artists are utilizing their craft to spark conversations and spur action.
With the use of discarded materials, Roy Ingente and Jesus Codeniera show examples of how creativity and innovation can transform waste into a masterpiece. Both artists have contributed their distinct voices to the emerging cause of environmental consciousness.
Ingente, an installation artist from Talisay City confronts biases of beauty by transforming familiar materials like plastics, wood and clothes into socially significant art.
Ingente’s creative awakening started in high school where his dedication to sketching and joining theater clubs fueled his passion for art.
An alumnus of the University of the Philippines Cebu Fine Arts program, he has established a unique artistic path with the guidance of his professors and fellow scholars.
“Art is to be seen as the relationship between the human and the material. There must be socio-economic relevance present,” Ingente said.
He challenged conventional norms by showcasing the materials abundant in economically disadvantaged communities.
“Through the use of abstractions, my art practice aims to amplify the presence of beauty despite the challenging environment,” he said.
Ingente’s primary medium is discarded clothes, which connect different materials together.
One of his notable works is a striking textile art installation entitled “Coronavirus: Beneath the Shadows,” displayed at the Kabilin Center during the Gabii sa Kabilin 2022.
Made from clothes sourced from thrift stores, his work conveys a powerful message about the pandemic. It captures the reality of transmitting the virus through the fabric.
Hence, it notifies the impact of the health crisis.
Meanwhile, Codeniera, a sculptor from Cebu City, also has the talent to transform waste into art. He transforms drifted, discarded and wrecked wood into pieces that reflect his life experiences and address social problems.
To facilitate his artistic process, Codeniera has acquired a tool that has become crucial to his craft — the chainsaw. According to him, the sound of the chainsaw is music to his ears.
“I find the chainsaw sound as a blocker to the sound of the real world which makes me completely focus on my work for hours without interruption,” he said.
Codeniera delves into themes that reflect the human condition. His appetite for subjects that expose injustices resonates through his works.
One of his notable works is “Power of the People,” two sculptures that are enshrined separately: one in his barangay at Cambinocot, Cebu City, and one in ML Quezon National Highway, Busok, Lapu-Lapu City.
The sculptures were inspired by Tarantadong Kalbo’s iconic digital drawing, “Tumindig.”
Using a broken tree struck down by typhoon Odette, Codeniera formed a firmly gripped fist in an upright position.
“After the devastation of typhoon Odette, many asked for help. I want to constantly remind people that it is okay to voice any injustices and needs,” Codeniera said.
Nonetheless, his personal experiences and vulnerabilities are intricately woven into the artwork, making it a profound reflection of his struggles and the shared experiences of the community he is in.
Jay Nathan Jore, UP Cebu Fine Arts professor and art critic, expressed the distinctive voice that art has to offer in today’s society.
“Art can be a potent means to bring necessary attention to the undeniable problems of environmental degradation. Art can arrest minds and hearts to confront difficult social issues and provide ways of elucidating their complexity,” he said.
Jore observed that only a few artists are dealing with sustainable art nowadays in our capitalist-driven society because artists are now motivated by trends and tastes.
Both artists emphasize the potential of waste to be a medium for social transformation. Through their sustainable art movement, they ultimately inspire viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment.