Jeepneys go from the streets to the galleries at ManilART

At ManilART 2012, the colorful jeepney is not just king of the road—it’s an icon of Filipino artistry. 

 

Originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II, the jeepney is now the most popular form of transportation in the country. Covered with decorations inside and out, the jeepney is a roving museum of Filipino culture.

"Ang Philippine jeepney kasi ang mga driver, everytime they earn something, they buy accessories. Nag-uumpisa ‘yung sa altar, sa rosary. Tapos lahat ng abubot, pictures ng pamilya nila nilalagay nila diyan. Tapos ‘yung harapan ng jeepney, nilalagay nila ‘yung horse. Kapag nadadagdagan ‘yung horse, dumadagdag raw ang horse power," explained sculptor Ral Arrogante, whose piece "Quiapo-Quiapo" reflects the jeepney's continuous evolution through patchwork modifications.

 

To make his jeepney sculpture, Arrogante used scraps from junkshops, such as small gears from an electric heater, air-conditioning units and synchronizers from a car's transmission.

 

"Napaka-importante sa mga jeepney owners ang tinatawag na accessories. The more accessories you have, the more progressive 'yung pagiging owner mo ng jeepney. So that's how they gauge kung ano ang magandang jeepney through the amount of accessories na inilalagay mo sa jeep mo. Kaya may mga family owned na jeepney, nilalagay pa nila ‘yung pangalan. Lahat ng apelyido, Reyes family, Buenaventura family, lahat ng klaseng pangalan nilalagay nila sa likod because they are proud to own a Philippine transportation such as the jeepney," Arrogante said during a press conference on October 4 at ManilART 2012 at the SMX Convention Center.

 

Arrogante is one of the artists whose work will be featured in Tribute Arts for Philippine Jeepneys, an exhibit that is part of the Jeepney Arts Festival launched last September. The festival pays homage to the jeepney as a true testament of Filipino artistry, ingenuity, resiliency and entrepreneurship, a press release said.

"This is something that speaks about us as a nation, and we're forgetting about it. So we thought of coming up with the Jeepney Arts Festival... a project for us to rehabilitate the Philippine jeepney," said Clang Garcia, managing director for the festival. 

 

The Jeepney Arts Festival aims to bring back the jeepney's glory through activities such as an on-the-spot jeepney painting last September 20, as well as the Department of Tourism's training program for participating jeepney drivers. The program includes values formation, the culture of tourism, proper handling of passengers, and road safety. According to Garcia, they also want to develop a green prototype for the jeepney.

 

At the on-the-spot jeepney painting activity, over 150 artists worked on 50 jeepneys, which can now be seen plying routes around Metro Manila. 

 

There was also a Grand Jeepney Parade last September 24, where the spruced up jeepneys became roving museums along the Pasay-Ayala route. 

Organized in partnership with ManilART and Design Week Philippines, Tribute Arts for Philippine Jeepneys is an exhibit of works that will be auctioned to help sustain the festival. Proceeds will help fund the rehabilitation and training program for Jeepney Arts Festival 2013. 

 

The exhibit features jeepney pop art, including Arrogante's sculpture, Nicole Whisenhunt's neckpiece, Maco Custodio's shoe design, and Jinggoy Buensuceso's doodle art.

 

Whisenhunt's colorful neckpiece is made with 24-carat plated gold cultured pearls, various semi-precious stones, glass, and crystals. Whisenhunt explained that the strap is meant to reflect the texture of jeepney tires.

 

Buensuceso's doodle art "Zoom" is "a representation of how fast the jeepneys in the Philippines evolved. Culture is kinetic, it keeps evolving, and the jeepney is part of our culture," the artist said.

 

There is also Custodio's Dove Grey and Aubergine kidskin leather "Jeep-atos," and Claude Tayag's mixed media piece featuring a jeepney at the Harajuku Station, "with Yayoi Kusama quietly sitting in the corner having a bad hair day, while Sto. Niño watches over the karaoke cosplayers," the exhibit notes said.

 

There are also several Plato Art pieces from Roberto Marquez, and pieces by Philippine based Japanese designer Wataru Sakuma and Bicolano painter Pancho Piano. 

 

"This is something unique that they will not find in other countries," said National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Committee on Art Galleries head Amy Loste. According to Loste, the auction is a good opportunity for foreigners who wish to have something from the Philippines to bring back home. 

 

The auction will be held on October 6 at ManilART 2012 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay. For more information, visit the Jeepney Arts Festival website or Facebook page or email bayanihan@jeepneyartsfestival.com. –KG, GMA News