Pop art is commonly defined as a movement that copies methods, styles, and themes of popular culture and media like comics. The emergence of pop art that started during Lichtenstein’s time used bright colors which themes and subjects are about modern life and trends.
With different media to use and the avenues to portray, the local pop art in Cebu is surely something that grows gradually every day. Here, there are two local artists who use digital and street art that fully outgrew the traditional style of the movement.
Gilby Clarke Aventurado is an experienced graphic artist and illustrator. With a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree, he used his skill in design to bring enthusiasm and inspiration.
One of Gilby’s inspirations is Roy Lichtenstein. “My style started back in 2016 when I was also inspired by James Jean, Shepard Fairey, and Andy Warhol,” he shares. He is also a member of the local bands Trial by Ordeal and Underground.
Gilby is more focused on the digital pop art movement and uses subjects or portraits of famous people.
Unlike the traditional pop art that used bright colors, Gilby is more focused on black and gray portraits textured by modern style pop art illustration.
“I think what makes my style different is that I focus more on portraits,” Gilby adds.
On the other hand, Kano, a local graphic and street artist used pop art on the streets. “Back in 2016, I was doing pop art on the streets and my subject was always this female, painted a comic strip on the walls. Later on, I decided to change my style so I experimented on my characters and made them more colorful,” Kano adds.
After few tries in his experimentations, he used his own character. “What I can say is that my style is more cartoon-ish,” he says.
Kano is a street artist that uses bright colors in his pop art on the streets.
Just like Gilby, Kano admits being influenced by famous pop art artists as well. His medium, the streets, is what makes him different.
“Seeing my own work in public places, it makes me happy. It’s like an addiction,” Kano shares.
The local art scene explores more on characters and realism. According to Kano, there are also a lot of street artists that use characters. But he adds, “My style is more of a cartoon, cute characters on a trippy colors but everything is still on the process”.
Gilby adds that the future of local pop art has a long way to go. He envisions it to be minimal. As someone who focuses more on the digital movement, he sees the local pop art culture to be growing still.
The combination of street art and pop art movement carries more avenue of self expression. As a street artist, Kano believes that this movement will showcase that the local street of Cebu is varied and equally good as the other art style.
The local pop art culture is a movement that experiments and thrives. The art that relies on trends and what’s new is good enough, but the movement that continues to combine with an enough amount of curiosity and support will strive to be the best.
]]>“Street art can very much give a very big impact on our culture in so many ways—whether it’s political, business, current situations or just simply just a strong message you want the public to see through your artwork” –Paolo Abellana
Photo Courtesy: Paolo Abellana (Facebook)
In the streets of Cebu, we get to pass by striking art on walls—from sidewalks, highway overpasses or exterior building walls. Street art is created in public places, especially in urban areas.
It is usually an expression of the artists’ messages and emotions about different issues, whether political or social. Street artists want different people to appreciate their work in order to get a reaction and feedback on the issues depicted. These varied art don’t stop at just being a mere painting, it evolves and continues to send a message.
Street art is creative and diverse. It continues to grow and develops interaction as you pass by different walls. These art of movement is for everyone to see, and we are welcome to appreciate expression and freedom.
Taking pride in spray paint and can skills, Paolo Abellana comes up with good content for the public to see. For him, promoting the graffiti scene helps in educating people that street art should be appreciated.
Spray paint that art. Photo Courtesy: Paolo Abellana
Paolo’s love for street art and graffiti during his high school days made him continue doing his passion until now. Even after coloring the city for 8 years now, it is still a struggle to keep the graffiti scene alive. It is still a struggle to have little support from the people especially from the government. Street artists like Paolo are still branding their own name and art.
Despite struggling for public acceptance, one thing that drives Paolo to do street art is the adrenaline he gets putting his artworks on the streets. He gets that inspiration where people can pass by and witness a masterpiece every day. The never-ending learning process and different styles to master in improving the art keeps him going.
For Paolo, street art is more than just artwork you see in the streets. There is more culture and history behind every striking image. It has its own art scene and that makes it different from any other forms of art out there.
Graffiti art in Escario, St. by Paolo Abellana
He looks up to street artists from Seventh Letter Crew, Banksy and Stompdown Killaz, considering that they brought street art to a whole new level—whether the street art is for business or movement of the scene. As a street artist himself, his current activity is educating young minds about street art such as graffiti lifestyle.
Bringing art to the street is Paolo’s way to send that strong message to appreciate street art. With support and acceptance, these street artists can pour their heart into their art and share their passion and consistency through the different walls of Cebu.
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