(via carolineisbr0ke)

Growing up my grandma used to tell me these stories. Rather these stories that served more as folklores, which deemed too far-fetched for me to be believe. There was this other “world” she would describe to me, a world where vampire-looking half man-half horse creatures existed. This was a world where mythical creatures were alive enough to play tricks or place curses on Filipinos unaware of their existence. Anytime I tried to leave the house at night or go on vacation in the Philippines, she assured me these creatures were hidden anywhere in forests or open fields. For some reason, she was always adamant in describing to me these other beings. At one point I began to wonder if my grandma was just gullible or if these stories she was describing actually existed. It wasn’t until last month where all I’ve only envisioned or dreamed up in this “world” was introduced to me again through forms of art expression.

“Gob” – J2 (via 1:AM flickr)

“Rock Steady Dwende” – Marlon Sagana Ingram (via 1:AM Flickr)

This is the same ingenious world created by curator and artist, James “gaNyan” Garcia at San Francisco’s 1:AM Gallery. Formally titled as “Tabi Tabi Po” (“please excuse me“), gaNyan brings life to traditional Filipino folklore and brings attention towards the victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. Serving as both a commemoration of Philippine culture and a benefit for the typhoon victims (percentage of the art sales will be donated through BAYAN Philippines and BALSA), gaNyan’s notion is to bring the community together through cultural expression. Through the works of 40+ artists hailing from the Philippines, Norway and the U.S., mythical creatures such as the Manananggal, Aswang, Tikbalang and the Dwende are illustrated into existence altering what our minds had only imagined into unique crafted works of art. gaNyan describes this exhibit as “a space for our community to just have a dialogue about our culture. A way for Fil-Ams and immigrants to connect or reconnect to the Philippines through Filipino Folklore creatures.”

The gallery is seen through the eyes of artists such as Allison Torneros, Chris De Leon, Mark Canto, Gem Mateo and J.R. “Dyno” Ignacio, a few whom identified with the myths by utilizing different mediums. From acrylic to knitting to wood burning to building a makeshift bahay kubo, this exhibit is filled with patterns of Philippine culture – a theme often unseen in many exhibits today.

Works such as “The Rite,” an original by 26-year old Chris de Leon has received an amount of praise and attention from this show.

(via 1:AM flickr)

When asked why he chose to use the technique of wood-burning for his piece the artist simply replied, “I had no money. A lot of people were like where did I come up with the technique? I didn’t come up with it. I was doing a magazine cover for Oh Dang! and I was gonna buy paint and I was broke. This kit was cheaper than the paints I was about to buy. So I decided to go with it and I fell in love with it.”

In de Leon’s piece he’s incorporated several elements to depict his feelings and views toward the culture. By portraying the manananggal through a shanthi mural, he was inspired to illustrate what he’s known about the culture with what he was unaware of before. “The actual inspiration behind the piece itself is really just a conflict that just goes on with Filipino-American descent. Not really knowing my Filipino culture or what ‘Tabi tabi po’ meant or even any of the creatures… this [The Rite] was kind of a clash of my two cultures of me being American and me being Filipino descent.” gaNyan believes this is a common trend for Fil-Ams today reiterating one of the reason why he created such an exhibit to begin with. “I think every single Filipino can probably relate to one of those artists. Again going back to identity. I think a lot of it is talked about. But I think this exhibit would help create that dialogue again.”

To accent these paintings, gaNyan has supplied audiences with a film documentary to help correlate with the exhibit. Created by Maya Santos, Glenn Aquino, gaNyan and edited by Aiza Bonus, this short film was created “to put a voice to the paintings and kind of give insight to different perspectives on what people think about it,” said gaNyan. “I think it’s important to give kind of that perspective. From Fil-Ams to recent immigrants to artists in the Philippines, they all have their own take on how they feel these tales impact socially and culturally.”

Originally opened for the public on November 13, 2009 Tabi Tabi Po has since raised a great amount of attention in both the Filipino community and beyond. Myx TV and SF Weekly have already covered the show. This success has created a healthy discussion and appraisal for Philippine art, tradition and the culture as a whole. What was created in only a few months, gaNyan’s imagination of bringing life to these mythical creatures has altered all our fantasies of folklore into some reality.

For once what few Philippine people have been known to see has finally connected those few who’ve only heard about these myths together in an evergreen of conversation amongst an appreciation and a better understanding of these traditional myths.

(via 1:AM flickr)

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1:AM SF Gallery: located on 6th & Howard
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1:AM flickr

(via carolineisbr0ke)

FYI: Tabi Tabi Po is only open for one more week. All is welcome to attend this exhibit any day till the last show this Saturday, December 12, where there will be a live musical performance by Baliktad. I recommend all to check this out if ya’ll are from the Bay Area.  It’s definitely an exhibit that holds a theme unique to the scene.