Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Sketchfest 2023 is a celebration of raw talent and creative expression. At the heart of this artistic showcase are six exceptional judges who will discern and honor the brightest new stars in the arts world.
On Sept. 30, 2023, the vibrant world of artistry in the Philippines will converge at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall for the highly anticipated “On-the-Spot” category of the 12th Manila Bulletin Sketchfest. This year’s theme is “We Are All Created Equal!”
Sketchfest 2023 is a celebration of raw talent and creative expression. At the heart of this artistic showcase are six exceptional judges who will discern and honor the brightest new stars in the arts world.
Katrina Cuenca is a self-taught Filipino artist who has been painting since the 1990s. She experiments with figures, patterns, and textures in her art, continuously rediscovering and evolving her practice based on life experiences. Her work is a fusion of figuration and abstraction, resulting in spontaneous and celebratory pieces. Notably, Katrina was the artist who created the trophy for Manila Bulletin’s UPLIFT Awards this 2023.
Michael Anthony Sagaran is a versatile expert who has achieved excellence as a public relations and marketing executive within the hotel sector, all the while garnering acclaim as a skilled visual artist. Throughout the years 2020 to 2022, amid the difficulties presented by pandemic-related lockdowns, Sagaran dedicated himself to honing his artistic abilities. During this period, he accomplished the successful organization of three exhibitions: the online showcase of the Vespa History Series, the Mercedes-Benz online exhibition, and his debut solo exhibition, “Moving Forward,” held at Conrad Manila.
Elaine Clemente, also known as Elaine Lopez-Clemente, is an artist who passionately champions the causes of women’s empowerment, the celebration of Philippine culture, and the conservation of native plants and animals in her artistic creations. Her art prominently revolves around the theme of embracing the vitality of life. She aims to vividly and colorfully depict life’s beauty on canvas and has gone to great lengths, including traveling to different locations, to deepen her understanding of cultural heritage through the richness of Philippine textiles.
Norlie Meimban is a proud alumnus of the University of the Philippines Fine Arts program, where he specialized in painting. His profound passion for creating art on canvas has been a lifelong pursuit. Over the course of his career, he has garnered recognition in prestigious art competitions. In 1989, he achieved distinction in the Metrobank Foundation Art Competition. He secured a third-place victory in 1993 and received another honorable mention in 1996, which granted him membership in the esteemed “Network of Winners” (NOW).
Yllang Montenegro is a feminist and independent artist from the Philippines who worked as a migrant worker in Japan. Her experiences as a female migrant worker sparked her involvement in activism to advocate for migrant women’s rights, empower survivors of trafficking and domestic violence, and support Japanese-Filipino children. As a self-taught artist, she founded Empowerment Through Art in 2017, a collective that advocates for women’s rights and raises funds for grassroots organizations and aspiring artists. Additionally, she is a member and current officer of KASIBULAN, Kababaihan sa Sining at Bagong Sibol na Kamalayan, a long-running feminist women artist group in the Philippines.
Laura Fermo is a multi-talented individual who juggles several roles: she serves as an economist, a visual artist, an advocate for women’s rights through her art, a proficient cake artist, and a devoted gardener. Additionally, she fulfills the responsibilities of a wife and mother. In the realm of art, Laura has achieved noteworthy recognition, earning a place among the top 12 visual artists in Las Pinas City. Her accomplishments include receiving the 2nd Kawayan Awards in December 2018 and clinching both the 2nd and 3rd Place positions in the Wilfredo Pascual Art in Essay Competition held on Oct. 30, 2018. Laura’s artwork has been prominently showcased in numerous group exhibitions, encompassing both physical gallery exhibitions and online displays, spanning the years from 2017 to 2021.
These six judges will play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of the contest. As they prepare to witness the next generation of sketching talents, their collective wisdom and diverse perspectives will undoubtedly inspire and guide the artists toward even greater heights of creativity.
— Feliciano Rodriguez III
Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
