Visual artists from Antique and Negros Occidental collaborated for an exhibit to raise funds for the 17th edition of the Visayas Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (VIVA ExCon) set Nov. 8-10, 2023, in this province. The’Madia-as x Kanlaon’ exhibition at the old capitol building in San Jose de Buenavista from Oct. 8 to 22 features paintings of 28 artists, including the Black Artists of Asia, namely Nunelucio Alvarado, Charlie Co, and Manny Montelibano. ‘The paintings now on display are in various forms like realism, abstract, and surrealism,’ said Bryan Liao, 17th Viva ExCon festival director, in an interview on Thursday. The paintings are in various medium like watercolor, oil, acrylic, and video. The prices range from PHP5,000 to PHP330,000. Any amount they can raise will augment the funds from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Senator Loren Legarda, Congressman Antonio Agapito Legarda, and Governor Rhodora Cadiao. The last VIVA ExCon held virtually in 2020 was hosted by artists from Negros Occidental. VIVA Excon exhibition designer Raz Laude said they expect around 800 artists from Visayas to attend the 17th edition. The conference will tackle topics such as ‘The Role of Indigenous Art and Culture in Contemporary Art Making and Discourse’ and ‘The Potential and Market of Local Materials Production.’ The organizer tapped experts from the main campus of the University of Antique in Sibalom to conduct lectures. ‘This will be a great learning opportunity for the artists and to network,’ Laude said.

Source: Philippines News Agency