[Image description Tweet from Invisichad "I love old timey predictions of the future that are all "labor will be unnecessary in the future due to technology" and it's only off because of simple naïveté. And then the next one is like "and we will all live in hot air balloons and breathe cheap, clean phosphorus gas""]
Mehretu’s work was brought to my attention during a meeting with my supervisor. My earlier works were appearing 2D, where now I wanted to create 3D dimensionality. I looked at the large scale, layers, the multi dimensional space in the urban environment. I like how the neutral cream background makes the work spacial and airy and gives depth. I adopted this colour for my backgrounds in my paintings, ‘Meridian’ and ‘In Play’ to also create this effect.
This post was written by Renz Reyes, one of the residents of the 2022 Emerging Futurist-in-Residence program. Speculating on the future of the Terno as an icon of Filipino culture and identity, he goes back and forth between the traditional and modern and synthesizing computers and mechanisms in work to come up with something unique.
(Image from Renz Reyes' public presentation.)
Welcome. We are in very strange times indeed. not really the most ideal Scenario. given to what is our Current reality. Hopelessness has set in and its so easy to get into a negative Headspace. after the Elections. I had a lot of mixed feelings. disappointment, anger and confusion. The desire to create was fleeting. but I knew moping around and sulking would be unproductive. and I can't be in that bubble for too long. to somehow get this thoughts out to comfort myself. I talked to a friend regarding our feelings at the time. and as our conversation progressed. We came to a consensus that we had to do something. A dialogue needed to begin.
As Creators ourselves. the best way we know is through art. Being Designers, We Naturally gravitated towards fashion and more specifically, The Terno. Since the Terno is a symbol of the Filipino people. which unfortunately has been tainted and synonymously linked to some unsavory individuals. now more than ever we need to claim the Terno as our own national identity.
As a creative who has a dayjob. I always sought ways to express my art outside commercial structures. Where I can explore my ideas to its fullest extent and just go off as the kid's would say Haha. So when this artist residency project by UPOU came into existence and I was offered to participate in it. it was a no brainer. What I really liked about this project is besides Creating meaningful, thought provoking pieces of Art. It also focuses on Futures literacy/ Thinking. I've always admired designers who are able to Combine Design and Technology in their work. Lately, There's been a shift in the industry where designers are collaborating with Scientists and Engineers. Developing new ways to create Textiles. Making Kinetic Garments, and having The Clothes be Computers themselves. its a different way of storytelling. These are the kinds of things I didn't know were even possible to do here locally. and these kinds of collaborations are the ones that yield the most interesting results. This being quite a new concept here. Made me more interested to make it happen.
Circling back to the Terno. We chose it since we want to do something that means to us and a lot of people. and if we were going to do something that elevates an artform from tradition to something Modern. it had to be the Terno. over the course of a few months I and my colleagues will be blogging The Progress of our work and the many changes that it will go into depending the challenges of Materials, production and the mentorship that we will all be under. i'm very interested in collaborating with The different experts in the fields of Technology/Science and Design and how it will affect my work visually and its purpose in the modern World.
Was encouraged by Tulli to post some of my original work here today for portfolio day. Besides GG20s, I'm also developing a cyberpunk story about a rookie cyborg boxer in an alternate 2001 Los Angeles in the style of late-90s anime.
I also have a side project, developing a video game idea on exploring the Pacific ocean and speculative marine sciences.
Also some posters I've done, including a piece I made for The Lovers.
Concept from a few days ago that has been ROTTING my brain. BIKER ANGEL BABYYY!!! Something I didn't know I needed in life-
Hes so cool and like, idk I just need to consume more media where angel is being badass. DGMW!!! I LOVE HIS PRETTY FEM SIDE. But also I think ppl forget he's a chaos maker/ prankster/ turf war participator who will run you down without hesitation if in a fight uvu