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By Jean Natividad Mark Ghosn , monologist and writer of Ampalaya Monologues - an episodic play featuring a collection of monologues about love, heartaches, and bitterness - will take the stage at Pride Night 2016 on June 11 at Pineapple Lab in Makati City . Through Ampalaya Monologues , Ghosn aims to tell the stories of those who've tasted the different flavors of bitterness that love has to offer. The artist has created a powerful art movement and a whole new performance arena, gathering theater actors, spoken word artists, and audiences in galleries, coffee shops, parks, bars, and other venues. See what Ghosn has in store for you on Pride Night 2016 in our Q&A with him below. He also talks about the new instalment of Ampalaya Monologues this Pride Month, so be sure to check that out too. Describe your art. I am a writer and an actor. What is the role of your art in empowering LGBT? Through these monologues, we can share different stories of LGBTQ+ individuals for others t...

By Jean Natividad With his chosen materials transformed in ingenious ways, Mars Bugaoan lets us in on his thoughts about themes that are all too familiar to us - the nature of change and constant evolution of all things. The artist makes us take a second look at the everyday transformations we see around us, inviting us to slow down and contemplate the cycle of life. Bugaoan showcases his creativity through a variety of outputs, including photos, fine prints, installations, and mixed media artwork. He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Major in Advertising from the University of Santo Tomas and is currently pursuing his Masters in Fine Arts Degree at the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Read what the artist has to say before viewing his works at Pride Night 2016 set for June 11 at Pineapple Lab in Makati City : How would you describe your work? I produce works that present how the chosen material transforms and evolves. I want t...

By Kris Tangco Upcoming artist, Tokwa Peñaflorida, has showcased his works in numerous exhibits and campaigns including Ayala Foundation’s “As One As We Can” and The Red Whistle’s “Red Letter Days”. Tokwa has selflessly created works for advocacies he believes in. Prolific and skillful, with works ranging from paintings to illustrations for children’s books, Tokwa’s compelling works celebrate the beauty of the human form while combining deep and metaphorical narratives.   With eroticism and nudism as prevailing themes, Tokwa’s artworks challenge socially conservative mindsets and conventions by speaking close to human experience. Never smug, Tokwa is an artist who is constantly honing himself. The altruistic artist sits down with LoveYourself’s Editorial Team for a short interview. (Photos provided by Tokwa Peñaflorida) Could you describe your art? I always had this fascination with the concept of sleep and things that have a relationship to it, like dreams, the process of sleeping...

By Kris Tangco Art director and digital illustrator Josh Galvez spends much of her time working in an ad agency and at the same time creating art, but she also dazzles the 11,000 fans on her YouTube channel Artpalette with digital painting videos. In 2013, Josh Galvez was one-half of a pair that represented the Philippines in the Young Designs Lions category at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, a prestigious creative communications summit held in Cannes, France. Josh also maintains an online exhibit featuring her works, which mainly are illustrations, and digital art. Her works will be featured at LoveYourself’s Pride Night 2016, much of which revolves around the theme of apparent normalcy. (Photos provided by Josh Galvez) “A lot of us have issues we keep buried deep in ourselves even though we pretend we are fine and dandy on the outside. Inside we're already drowning and that we have no choice but to keep afloat no matter what happens. We also have to realize...

When HIV/AIDS advocate Wanggo Gallaga caught a performance of Daloy Dance Company he was moved by its grace and power, calling it "breathtaking, provocative, and daring." Improvisation, experimentation and polished technique all combine to make the dance theater collective a rising force in the Philippine dance scene. Aside from garnering critical applause, Daloy has become a prolific presence in prestigious local arts festivals such as the Fete de la Musique and Malasimbo Lights and Dance Festival and the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Pasinaya Festival and Performatura Arts Festival. In celebration of the inclusiveness amid diversity that is at the core of Pride Month festivities this June, Daloy Dance Company will perform at Pride Night 2016 . Below they share their unique viewpoint as a dance company and reveal the concept behind their performance this Saturday: Could you describe your performance art? Daloy Dance Company is a Manila-based dance theatre collective f...

By Kris Tangco Multi-awarded artist Niccolo Cosme joins LoveYourself in celebrating Pride Month by participating in an exhibit showcasing some of his works in Pride Night 2016 at Pineapple Lab in Makati City. The conceptual photographer has always been a staunch LGBT advocate. He started The Red Whistle campaign in 2011 to raise awareness and understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Philippines.  A recipient of the “Ani ng Dangal” award bestowed by the National Commision for Culture and the Arts, Niccolo’s works have gained renown in the international scene. His “Project Headshot Clinic” is a platform that layers online profile photos of people with marks and motifs used by the advocacy. This initiative has caught the attention of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and he has spearheaded its implementation for campaigns in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Macau. (Photo from nognoginthecity.com) (Photo from thelighthousestudio.files.wordpress.com) Interested in Chr...

By Jean Natividad  Enter the world of the beautifully bizarre as artist, sculptor, and designer Leeroy New unveils his works that celebrate Pinoy and LGBT pride at Pride Night 2016 on June 11 at Pineapple Lab in Makati City. The young contemporary artist is known for creating eccentric and out-of-this-world artwork that challenge the imagination. One of his most famous creations include his collaboration with designer Kermit Tesoro for pop star Lady Gaga's muscle dress in her "Marry the Night" music video. New's artistry is experienced in film, theatre, visual arts, and fashion. He works as a production designer, has designed sets and costumes for theater groups like Ballet Philippines and Dulaang UP, has participated in Philippine Fashion Week, has joined numerous exhibitions abroad like the Singapore Biennale (2008) and the Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale (2009), and has mounted large-scale art installations like his Balete series (2010). Immerse in New's outrageo...

By Kris Tangco Jun-jun Sta. Ana, visual artist who describes his works as “instinctive”, utilizes everyday objects as tools for expression. Hailing from a family of dentists, Junjun despised school and started his career in the arts as a window dresser. He honed his skills and artistry with one of the early release fine digital cameras back in the early 2000’s, experimenting with digital manipulation to come up with surprisingly different results.  exhibit in 2013 at the Nova Gallery in Makati City showcases 125 photographic prints using an iPhone4. The exhibit shows different views of the city of Chicago, including a portraits of men seen from social networking sites such as Grindr. Photos taken from chuvaness.com “The work I do is instinctive, using a lot of found materials.” said Jun-jun. Jose Ardivilla of The Standard describes Junjun’s photography as the antithesis of the narcissism associated with selfies and the glamour of glitzy landmarks, and instead offers the viewer an ...