Filipino artist Lynyrd Paras brings his self-portrait to a limited-edition turntable made with Pro-Ject Audio Systems, bringing visual art and music into the same space.
Words Mariz Shane Linsangan
Photos courtesy of Avellana Art Gallery
November 4, 2026
A turntable is usually made to play music. But in Wasak Kung Wasak, it also becomes a space for visual art.
The collaboration between Filipino artist Lynyrd Paras and Pro-Ject Audio Systems features Paras’ self-portrait on a limited-edition turntable. The project launched on October 24 at Avellana Art Gallery in Pasay City, alongside an accompanying exhibition.
By placing an artwork on an object associated with listening, the collaboration brings together two creative forms that people often experience differently. A painting is usually something to look at, while a turntable is part of an activity that unfolds through music.
Here, the two meet in a single object. The turntable keeps its original function while carrying an image that gives it a distinct visual identity. It becomes both a piece of audio equipment and an object that collectors can appreciate as part of their personal spaces.
Self-portraits allow artists to present themselves through their own eyes. By placing his self-portrait on a turntable, Paras brings his image beyond the traditional canvas and into an object that can become part of someone’s everyday listening experience.
The limited-edition format also places the project within the worlds of art and collecting, where an object’s appeal can come from its function as well as the creative decisions behind it.
For vinyl collectors, listening often involves more than choosing a record. Album sleeves, record players, and other pieces of equipment can become part of the experience, reflecting personal tastes and the way people enjoy music.
Playing a record also has its own routine: choosing an album, taking it out of its sleeve, placing it on the turntable, and lowering the needle. These small actions make listening a physical experience, giving people time to engage with music beyond simply pressing play.
The collaboration builds on this relationship between objects and personal interests. By bringing Paras’ self-portrait into a functional piece of audio equipment, Wasak Kung Wasak connects visual art with an activity that many people already associate with memory, taste, and everyday life.
The accompanying exhibition at Avellana Art Gallery presents the project within an art space, allowing audiences to encounter the collaboration beyond its use as audio equipment.
Wasak Kung Wasak shows how art can move between different forms without being confined to one medium. Its turntable becomes more than a tool for playing records. It also becomes a space for an artist’s image, bringing visual art into the experience of listening.
