Pauline & Sandra's The Artista Review

Sandra sits down with Tacloban-born fashion designer Tipay Caintic this week to talk about ethics in the fashion industry, the ideas behind her new collection Oral Fixations, and how she is helping her community rebuild post-supertyphoon Haiyan. Links: TipayCaintic.com Miz + Moxie Oral Fixations Rosette coat Oddball Friends Ken Samudio SANKATIGAN Craft MNL Tipay Caintic and Craft MNL Craftmaking Workshops Kamay Ni Nanay

This week’s episode was recorded for The Artist Ambassador convention, an online event that invited “artists and participants to explore what it means to be an artist in the current social, economic and political climate and how we tackle these hurdles with technology, conversation and collaboration.” You can read more about the convention at this link. In this panel discussion, we talk about distance, mobility, and the way those concepts affect cultural practices. This week’s guests are Alice Sarmiento (art critic and curator), Merv Espina (the institute of lower learning (iLL), Green Papaya Art Projects, WSK), Siddharta Perez (National University of Singapore Museum, Planting Rice) and Randel Urbano (Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center).

Award-winning cinematographer Sasha Palomares shares her thoughts this week on seeing the world through a cinematographic lens, the relationships she forms on set, and the emotional and physical stamina it takes to get through a project. This episode features guest host Kim Alcoreza. Links: Sasha Palomares cinematography showreel That Thing Called Tadhana trailer Star Na Si Van Damme Stallone trailer Echorsis trailer

Lui Medina is a full-time visual artist living and working in Manila. Her practice utilizes painting, drawing and sculptural elements to give life to her thought processes. She speaks to Sandra and guest host Alice Sarmiento this week about studying painting in the UK, the relationship between art writing and art making, and how the academe informs art ecosystems. This episode features guest host, writer and art critic Alice Sarmiento. Links: luimedina.com Art Informal

Carlos Castaño is an independent Filipino musician who has performed for crowds around the world. Most notably, he played at the Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore in 2014. He talks to us this week about his experience coming out of the Manila gig scene, what parts of himself go into his songwriting, and the role of intentionality in building a career. This episode features guest host, writer and musician Abi Portillo. Links: carloscastanomusic.com

Cru Camara is a photographer based in Manila and New York City. She is known for her distinct imagery, colored in fluorescent pastels, depicting scenes from both cities. Cru discusses the conceptual origins of her work, the importance of photographic literacy and the effects of art school on her personal endeavours. This episode features guest host, illustrator Sean Andrew Cura. Links: Cru Camara on Tumblr Tim Serrano How Rejlander May Have Produced “The Two Ways Of Life” - Iconolatria, Sandra Dans, UP Vargas Museum

Rod Marmol is a poet and storyteller known for his “hugot poetry”. His Facebook page, Utot Catalog, has garnered 230,000 likes in the past three years and continues to grow. In this episode, he talks to us about his dreams of becoming a thought leader, his fascination with heartwrenching stories, and why rejection is such a resonant theme in his writing. Links: Utot Catalog on Facebook Utot Catalog on YouTube Utot Catalog on Twitter

Katrina Teh is a Filipina digital artist and illustrator based in Hong Kong. She balances a professional career as a concept artist for Disney, with her personal projects, which include expressionistic digital collages. In this interview, she discusses the role of emotions in art making, what it is to be an OFW (overseas Filipino worker), the value keeping sketches and squiggles in a notebook, and the divide between “jobs” and “autobiographical work”. Links: artofkatrinateh.com Katrina Teh on Facebook Katrina Teh at Slideluck (vimeo)

Art critic Alice Sarmiento discusses critical thinking, the controversial influence of language on art’s market value, and what it means to be a Filipino artist on the world stage.  Reference links: alicesarmiento on wordpress

Four-time Palanca Award winning writer Exie Abola discusses his writing process, his stance on Filipino writers using the Enlish language, and his decision to shift his focus from non-fiction to fiction.  References: Disappearances by Exie Abola (p. 84) exieabola on Twitter

In this year-end review of the podcast’s first season, hosts Sandra Dans and Pauline Lacanilao recap 2015 highlights, examine lessons learned, and give clues to what should be expected in the upcoming year. 

Filipina painter and fine art instructor Jackie Lozano discusses the the inspiration for and the evolution of her dreamy oil paint portraits. She also touches upon art’s relationship with mental illness, abuse, sadness, and personal battles. This emotional interview is also peppered with keen insights about the academe, as well as a lot of laughs. Reference links: ikaj paintings Egon Schiele Kent Williams

Marlon Rivera is the award-winning film director of the Filipino independent blockbuster Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. He has also successfully established himself in the advertising, education, and fashion sectors. On the side, he pursues poetry and painting. In this interview, the energetic polymath sheds light on both the practical and philosophical motivations for his work, the difference between his approach to commercial projects versus indie ones, and so much more. Reference links: mnr_inc on Instagram Guernica, Pablo Picasso The Assumption of the Virgin, El Greco

Ralph Catedral is a human rights lawyer and creative writer concentrating on short fiction. In this interview, he explains how the two practices complement each other. He also goes into depth about Filipino identity, and the value of literature in nurturing it.   Reference links: arveecee on Instagram

On this episode, we feature heavy metal singer Tanya Diaz. Starting in adolescence, she tells us the story of how music has taken her on a rollercoaster journey of fame, failure, apathy, passion, and love. Reference links: Tanya Ileto Diaz on Facebook tanyailetodiaz on twitter healthymetal on YouTube

In a rare glimpse into the non-interview world of co-hosts Pauline Lacanilao and Sandra Dans, this conversation with graphic designer, illustrator, and their dear friend Sean Andrew Cura, explores the futility of art, the line between artistic productivity and adult responsibility, and, indirectly, the role of friendship in creativity. 

Filmmaker Jerrold Tarog recently released the hit historical movie Heneral Luna. Not only did he direct it, he also composed the score, co-wrote the script, and edited the film himself. In this interview, we get an insider’s look into the mind of a master. He discusses the importance of knowing local history, how his independent film caught mainstream attention, and what approaches Filipinos should take in order to be more unified. This episode is in Tagalog, and was guest-produced by Bianca Lesaca. Reference links: jerroldtarog on Twitter JerroldTarog.com Agusan Marsh Diaries (documentary) Faculty (short film) Heneral Luna the Movie (YouTube channel) DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya on Antonio Luna’s death

Sofia Borromeo is a Filipino fashion designer committed to both the artistic and business aspects of her work. In this must-hear interview, she discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the local industry, what it means to conceptualize a portfolio, and how artists and business owners can address the Philippines’ socio-economic inequalities through ethical practices.  Reference links: sofie_rtw on Instagram Sofia Borromeo on Behance

Actor, comedian, and industry veteran Gabe Mercado sheds some well-articulated insight on showbiz. He discusses humor’s political power, the stage’s social responsibility, and improv’s role in drawing international attention to Filipinos in the funny business.  Reference links: spitmanila on Twitter spitmanila on Facebook spitmanila on Instagram

Claire Miranda is a multi-faceted artist with a global background. She writes, paints, and combines the two. She’s also had professional experience as a radio DJ and a magazine contributor. In this interview, Claire discusses identity, evolution, and growth — and how art helps navigate the three. Reference links: scribblerbean on Instagram (Claire’s Instagram) Throne of Blood (Novella by Cassandra Troyan; poetry/fiction, avant-garde literature)