Bjorn Calleja on the current local art scene: 'It's a good time to be an artist'

For interdisciplinary contemporary artist Bjorn Calleja, today’s Philippine art scene is more colorful than ever, thanks to so many different avenues.

Answering GMA Integrated News at Art in the Park’s press event, Bjorn talked about the scene and what it is like being a Filipino artist today.

Bjorn said that with the advantage of technology and the wide access provided by social media, artists are able to market themselves.

He added, “Ang importante lang naman for artists is to stay focused on their intentions. And the intention should be, in my opinion, is to create—create something that is very honest to the artists.”

Bjorn added that artists today are fortunate because of the many opportunities in the Philippines, through galleries, events like Art Fair Philippines and Art in the Park, and that there is also a market.

“Booming yung industry ng art. I think it's a good time to be an artist.”

Though Bjorn “can't say it's the best,” it has been better than before.

“I've seen worse situations and I've been through worse situations,” he laughed.

Bjorn added that being locked down has created a bigger interest in art.

“The pandemic gave people time to look at their homes and parang find something that will give soul,” he said.

At the event happening on March 19 at the Salcedo Park in Makati City, Bjorn will be sharing a series of large-scale charcoal and graphite drawings as well as some ceramic sculptures titled “Dirty Hands,” because “the process involves me getting my hands dirty.”

 

“Figurative yung drawings and yung sculptures, but I look at the process as something na parang gumagawa ako ng abstraction,” Bjorn said.

“Nagiging figurative lang siya kasi yung form niya and features nung portraits are very humanlike. Hinahanap ko lang din yung humanity dun sa paggawa,” he added.

Bjorn added, “I really love working with my hands and getting my hands dirty. It's a play on the human form and yung process, and how I can experience my humanity with art making.”

Art in the Park is happening on March 19 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Jaime Velasquez Park, more known as Salcedo Park in Makati City. Here's everything you need to know about it. — LA, GMA Integrated News