The country is currently at the height of election campaigns and the bid to the presidency proves to be a tough battle, especially in the online arena. After all, the road to Malacañan is long, rocky, and exhausting.
Becoming a candidate is only the start of the election process, so when Vice President Leni Robredo announced her bid for presidency, several artist supporters organized a special project called MAS RADIKAL ANG MAGMAHAL: Artists Unite for Leni, and Our Country’s Future to help with her candidacy.
We talked to Center for Art, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) founder and executive director Gigo Alampay, who is also one of the organizers of Radikal, to share his insights about the upcoming election, and the inspiration behind the Radikal exhibit:
Art Plus: Can you tell us about the journey on how you were able to organize the show?
Gigo Alampay: Actually, I knew many months back that if Leni ever ran, I was going to organize this show for her. I knew it had to be a group show. I felt that the collective statement made by more than 100 artists participating in a show to support her candidacy would be even more impactful.
AP: Who are the artists featured in the exhibit?
GA: More than a hundred artists are participating. They come from all backgrounds, different provinces, and are from different stages in their careers – from beginning artists to mid-career professionals to established ones like the National Artist BenCab.
AP: How did you pool the artists for the show?
GA: It wasn’t too difficult getting artists to join a show to support Leni Robredo’s campaign.
How long did it take to put the exhibit together?
GA: I started inviting artists right after she formally announced her candidacy for President. (Robredo announced her candidacy in October 2022.)
AP: What is the message that you want to convey through Mas Radikal ang Magmahal? What makes it worth it?
GA: The coming election is as important as any we’ve faced. Without exaggeration, this is a good vs. evil battle, and it is no time to stay on the fence. I think that if she wins, Leni will be a hugely positive force for change across all sectors. What she stands for – incorruptibility, competence, empathy – stand in stark contrast to what we have right now, the effects of which crosscut and will benefit everyone. I’m doing this for my kids, for our country, for our future.
MAS RADIKAL ANG MAGMAHAL: Artists Unite for Leni, and Our Country’s Future opens on 14 February 2022 and will run indefinitely. All artworks can be viewed exclusively online at www.radikal.ph. Interested buyers can inquire through the website.
Images courtesy of Gigo Alampay.
