It’s National Arts Month again—a time for artists and art enthusiasts to come together and appreciate the local art scene.
The last few years have made way for more inclusivity and acceptance, encouraging more and more artists to tell the stories of minorities, namely women and the LGBTQ+ community. Aside from this, another subject local artists are exploring is cultural identity—something that keeps us close to our roots and helps us understand how our societal views are formed.
Here are some local female visual artists that you should check out for National Arts Month:
Nikki Luna
Nikki Luna creates art that spotlights unheard voices. Using materials such as milk, diapers, eggs, curtains, photographs and mirrors, that are traditionally associated with women, Luna captures the voice of the vulnerable, the wronged, and the displaced.
Agnes Arellano
The subject of Agnes Arellano’s sculptures is women’s sexuality. She draws inspiration from rich personal experiences and creates some of the most dramatic pieces in Asia.
Martha Atienza
Martha Atienza has made her mark in the local art scene by sticking to the unconventional and creating video and sound installations. She is known for her intriguing pieces that often portray contradictions, “like how water simultaneously responds to and resists the reach of human knowledge” and pushes for social change and development.
Samantha Lee
Queer cinema has always been Samantha Lee’s passion, which is why her film “Baka Bukas” was born. It’s through filmmaking that she advocates better representation of the local LGBTQ+ community.
Photo courtesy of the Nikki Luna’s instagram account
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