Lukob Art Exhibition by Silaw

LUKOB ART EXHIBITION SHOWCASES FILIPINO FOLKLORE THROUGH UNIQUE ART STYLES

A shared love of art brings together three talented creatives—a graphic novelist, a multimedia artist, and a cartoonist—at the Lukob Art Exhibition, now open at the Cyber and Fashion Mall in Eastwood City. Valiente, Modesto, and Estanislao, longtime friends and fellow artists, each bring their distinct styles to this exhibition, along with other members of the Silaw Artist Collective. United by their passion for Filipino folklore, these artists celebrate cultural tales and original characters inspired by local legends in an eclectic display of artwork.

The exhibition reflects the Silaw Artist Collective’s hallmark diversity, showcasing installation art, oil paintings, pen and ink illustrations, and resin sculptures. The Halloween-themed exhibit, requested by the partner mall, posed a creative challenge for the group. But it also provided an opportunity for Valiente and Modesto, founding members of the collective, to invite their mutual friend, Estanislao, as a guest artist. His featured piece, Maligno sa Tansan, captures the haunting essence of the season and complements the exhibit’s exploration of Filipino mythological creatures.

For their own contributions, Valiente and Modesto each reimagined iconic supernatural beings with unique stylistic twists. Valiente’s piece, Manananggal, is a pen and ink rendering on watercolor paper, showcasing his trademark strokes and arresting visual style. Modesto’s work on a Mambabarang, is executed in graphite and acrylic on paper, merging traditional and contemporary techniques to capture the chilling essence of a feared sorceress.

Omeng Estanislao, meanwhile, contributed several of his original resin sculpture creations to the exhibit, with Maligno sa Tansan as one of the highlights. Known for his unique blend of humor and whimsy, Estanislao’s work reflects a playful twist on the supernatural. His other pieces on display, Judith a.k.a. Due Date and Monster Sisig, further showcase his imaginative approach, combining Filipino cultural elements with his signature comedic style to bring a lighthearted yet thought-provoking angle to the exhibition’s theme.

Randy Valiente’s 'Manananggal,' a pen-and-ink piece on watercolor paper, showcases his skill as a veteran comics illustrator. Valiente is now one of the country’s leading graphic novelists, with two published works, Wala ng Tao sa Maynila and Sining Killing, to his credit.

Benedicto Modesto’s 'Barang by Stereo: Away sa Lupa' is a striking study in his masterful use of color and symbolism to depict decay and ritualistic practices in his interpretation of a local witch.

Omeng Estanislao’s 'Maligno sa Tansan', pay homage to popular supernatural characters such as the Tikbalang and Kapre among his litters of Maligno.