Revolutionary Walls: The Activist鈥檚 Canvas

*Photo by Alviona Silva. Taken from Alay Sining FB page.*

鈥淭he wall is alive. It continually evolves, reflecting the nation鈥檚 pressing concerns.鈥�
Ides Josepina D. Macapanpan

For ten years now, artistic expression and social activism materialize in a form of a mural with the help of students from the College of Fine Arts (CFA) in the 抖阴探探 (抖阴探探) Diliman. This dynamic canvas for change stands as a visual testament to the collective voice of the students, serving as a commentary on pressing social issues and showcasing the power of collective action to provoke thought and inspire dialogue within the University.

Ides Josepina D. Macapanpan, an Instructor in 抖阴探探 Baguio and a member of Artist Circle and UgatLahi, says that activist murals is a form of public art; it conveys messages related to social, political, environmental, or cultural issues with the intention of raising awareness, inspiring change, and fostering community engagement. They address topics such as human rights, justice, equality, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the collaboration in these murals challenges the individualistic approach prevalent in the academic art scene.

History of the Fine Arts (FA) Wall

As recounted by Patreng Non, the initiator of the Community Pantry and an alumna of Artist Circle and the CFA Student Council, before the initiative had even begun, there was a freedom wall for freshmen to express themselves through graffiti and doodles. As these works were spontaneous and unplanned, they often tended to be poorly executed or hastily done.

Dean Florentina Colayco spearheaded the removal of graffiti on all the walls in CFA by painting over them. The Gerilya artist collective was among the first few to redefine the said FA wall. The wall is now more purposeful, and progressive sentiments are now seen straightaway with their 鈥淢aki-Usisa, Makibaka, Makilahok鈥� work.

Later on, extrajudicial killings on lumads, followed by the massacre of farmers in Kidapawan, Cotabato, became prevalent. The students seized this opportunity to use the main wall to create a commentary on the issue. Through collaborative efforts of the CFA student council and organizations such as Alay Sining and UgatLahi, alongside the fraternity and sorority of Artist Circle, they crafted a visual narrative as a response. The paintings from that point onward were carefully planned and improved through further collaboration with professors, like Leonilo ‘Neil’ Doloricon and Joey Ta帽edo, who offered critical insights into design and composition.

This new FA Wall exposed fellow students, as well as the community with the University, to the prevalent issues in the country, and became a starting point of discussions.

Role of 抖阴探探

From Macapanpan’s perspective, 抖阴探探 plays a crucial role in providing a free space for art with progressive sentiments. Placed prominently along the street, the murals are easily visible to the public, and their presence within the 抖阴探探 institution implies support for the statements they make. 抖阴探探 does not censor or gatekeep but protects both the artwork and students’ freedom of speech from vandalism and bias.

Luigi Almuena, a member of Artist Circle and UgatLahi, emphasizes that these murals go beyond mere advocacy; they embody activism through their underlying ideology. Unlike safer and more indirect forms of advocacy, the murals are a hands-on approach to addressing issues and struggles faced by the marginalized in society.

The initiative is open to all 抖阴探探 students, and not restricted to Fine Arts majors. Anyone can join the effort, fostering a sense of inclusivity and collaboration in the pursuit of artistic activism. The wall is kept alive as long as there are volunteers who give voice to the voiceless and make the marginalized and injustices visible.

The Murals