Bikol Art Group to launch virtual art exhibit on pandemic narratives

Photo taken during the 2004 Kasanggayahan Festival Mural Painting contest (1st Place).
(From left to right: Allan Abrigo, Geri Matthew Carretero, Kris Abrigo, Joseph Bausa, Peach Dellosa and Rudy Corral)

Sorsogon, Philippines–The Kurit-Lagting Art Collective will launch this April its second online art show with works that tell narratives and stories about the struggles of communities. The exhibition, titled Pagbutwa II, is inspired by the Bikolano word for the resurfacing of something long concealed. The idea refers to the Pagbutwa or emergence of the artistic product during this time of Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Geri Matthew Carretero, art director and co-founder of the art collective, the artists involved in the online show are all from community-based organizations. “With their artworks, we want to tell the struggles of ordinary people especially those coming from disadvantaged communities. “We also want to focus on the results of their creative efforts for the past year so we will be showing their works in various formats by providing them an online platform to express their thoughts and ideas,” he further said.

Last year, the art group also launched the Pagbutwa I, a virtual exhibit which was part of the three phases lined up as a community art project.

“We are in the very same situation as last year. While we have been waiting for Phase two, which is the migration of the works from the digital domain to a physical community space we still cannot do that,” said Jobeth Jerao, a Kurit-Lagting member.

“But, the pandemic cannot stop artists from being creative. Art can help us get through this health crisis. We will also conduct a series of workshops and webinars that are interconnected during the duration of the online art show so that participants will see their progress and learn from each other,” he added.

Kurit-Lagting started as a mural painting group of six members in 2002. The group was formalized as an art collective in 2011

Today, the Kurit-Lagting has grown into a collective artistic collaboration of Bicolano artists from Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate and Camarines provinces with art advocacies on human rights and the environment.