PICCA Bayani Back to Back Exhibit 2011

The Philippine International Cartoons, Comics, and Animation, also known as PICCA, just opened their two-week exhibit, Bayani: Back to Back, last November 8, 2011. The exhibit is housed at the GSIS museum.

“Bayani: Back to Back” is an exhibit that highlights the heroic history of two Filipinos: Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino. PICCA President Boboy Yonzon shared a few inspiring words before the exhibit was opened to the public.

The artwork on display strived to carve their own niche, with some appealing to humor while others aimed to provoke thought. A group exhibit is interesting that way: there is no “signature style” that makes the collection predictable.

Some of the artwork that caught my attention:

Roni Santiago’s caricature of Ninoy Aquino was an honest, no-frills interpretation of what Ninoy meant to the Filipino community.

Artwork by Roni Santiago

Stanley Chi’s comic strips on Ninoy offered tongue-in-cheek humor. I loved the last punchline where Ninoy asked his son, the now-President Noynoy, “Kelan mo ba ako bibigyan ng apo (When are you going to give me a grandchild)?”

Artwork by Stanley Chi

 

Boboy Yonzon’s work was fashioned as an editorial cartoon, serving as food for thought:

Lito Yonzon’s contribution made watercolor look like an easy medium:

For Julius Villanueva, Ninoy’s fame seemed like a good foundation for commercialization:

And here is Jun Aquino’s work, drawing parallelisms between Bonifacio and Ninoy:

Norman Isaac’s work was reminiscent of Rizal’s last living moments, with Rizal’s reply denoting a foregone conclusion:

PICCA continues to uphold Philippine art by standing behind local cartoonists and artists. Its members want nothing more than to be acknowledged as both masters and students of their craft, learning even while they aim to leave us points for pondering. Bayani: Back to Back is a perfect example of what PICCA stands for: unity in diversity.