Color, collaboration, and community lie at the heart of BAGSIK and BAG, two dynamic art groups making their mark in the Philippine art scene.
BAGSIK, short for Batanguenong Grupo sa Sining at Kultura, hails from Batangas, while BAG, or Baras Artist Group, represents artists from the scenic town of Baras in Rizal province.
Both groups have found a creative home in ARTablado, the advocacy arm of Robinsons Land Corporation dedicated to providing a platform for visual creators.
BAGSIK’s Bahaghari: Mga kulay ng sining
BAGSIK presents Bahaghari: Mga Kulay ng Sining, a vibrant showcase of Batangas artistic talent on view at ARTablado in Robinsons Galleria until April 15.
Exhibit features 42 artists whose works span various media, including oil, acrylic on canvas, watercolor, mixed media, clay and scrap iron, magazine mosaic, and digital photography. The themes explored range from romantic and maternal love to faith, mysticism, landscapes, and Filipino traditions such as the annual fiesta.
One of the exhibit’s standouts is Remo Valenton’s “Enlivening,” a mixed-media assemblage depicting love and longing.
“The clock keeps ticking, the heart keeps beating, and life moves forward with the hope that they will soon be together again,” Valenton shared about his work.
BAGSIK has been cultivating artistic talent since 1991. It has mentored young artists, including King Villena, this year’s grand prize winner of the Sueong-gu Korea International Youth Art Exhibition.
“BAGSIK aims to hold regular exhibits and introduce our members to the broader art market while maintaining professionalism and continuously improving our craft,” Valenton explained. “We critique each other’s work and visit the National Museum, Art Fair Philippines, and Manila Art to study art and culture and absorb new techniques.”
He emphasized, “Talent alone is not enough. There must be passion tempered by both heart and mind. Each artwork has a story—the financial reward is only secondary.”
Baras artist group’s art flow
A younger but equally passionate collective, BAG is deeply rooted in collaboration and community. Most of its members consider Baras their home. But ARTablado is undoubtedly their artistic sanctuary.
“We belong to the ARTablado community and are grateful for its unwavering support in providing a platform for our art,” said BAG spokesperson and visual artist Adler Llagas.
BAG was born out of a 2021 en plein air (open-air) mural painting contest sponsored by Baras Mayor Willy Robles. The event fostered friendships among the participants, leading to the group’s formation.
“We plan to train young artists and promote Baras as an art town,” Llagas said. However, the journey was not without challenges. “Convincing artists to help promote art was difficult at first, but our experience guided us through.”
Currently on display at ARTablado Robinsons Antipolo until April 15, BAG’s Art Flow marks the group’s third collective exhibit.
“We hope that our new members never lose their enthusiasm for creating art. The older members will always be here to mentor and share experiences—to keep the art flowing,” Llagas said in Filipino.
Nature’s beauty, man’s search for meaning, and human frailties are recurring themes in BAG’s artworks.
“There lies beauty in opposites. The calmness of scarlet and the rage of blue give light and the duality of calm,” Daniel Cerda Daleon described “Of Scarlet and Blues,” an acrylic on canvas painting (24″ x 18″).
Meanwhile, Lorily C. Darag wrote about her mixed-media piece “Pader:” “Behind the broken wall, there is a plant with pink flowers that brings beauty to its surroundings.”