If you don’t pay close attention, there’s a lot of heat catching fire that you’ll miss. But we’ve got your back: ACDMND$ and Nahmean Namsayin‘s “Ice” turned out to be a sleeper hit, ratcheting up a steady number of fans since it dropped in June and breaking through the million man mark this week. The Antipolo squad brought together the perfect combo of earworm hooks and beats that make it hard to forget. (Skinny G‘s thug life glasses are worth noting, too.)
Read MoreWater Water Everywhere Not A Drop To Drink: Bato At VoV
Empty, matte black figures suspended above dust piles in a small, windowless room and a dry faucet on the far end. It’s a bleak scene, one loaded with implications for our future if the world continues on its path. The installation is Dennis Bato‘s “Element Of The Past” show at Vinyl on Vinyl, which opened this week. And although meaning behind this piece of concept art is unclear at first glance, all it takes is a nudging from the artist himself to send its possibilities spiraling. He says it’s about the existence humans might face from the choices we’ve made, specifically the specter of water crises, which Manila only recently suffered through as millions of people faced limited access to water.
Read MoreReen Barrera Explores The Idea Of Families At Vinyl On Vinyl
Family. It’s the basic unit of human connection, an integral part of existence, the root of one’s identity, usually composed of parents and children in the same household. Most consider the people they were born into and share a bloodline with as their family.
The Tattoos And Art Of Nep Cardenas
Linework is linework. Whether it’s tattoos or illustration, simple and precise lines can make all the difference. It’s a lesson that Nep Cardenas is taking to heart in both fields. With illustrations heavily influenced by comic strips and manga, and tattoos inspired by classic Japanese and Sailor Jerry styles, the young artist is quickly making a name for himself.
Neo Manila, As Imagined By Abel Arce
Endless Loyalty: JP Pining At Secret Fresh
JP Pining knows who’s got a soft spot for their fuzzy little friends. In his second solo show at Secret Fresh, dubbed “Endless Loyalty,” he uses his trademark geometric style to illustrate different breeds of dogs, capturing them in riotous color. JP has a doggo to call his own, who is part of the inspiration behind this show, but another driving force was witnessing how people are changed by forming relationships with their dogs. Any pet lover would know what it’s like, and these bonds were on full display with all the pets running around that night.
Mixed Media Future Shock by RJ Wolfgang
RJ Wolfgang is a one-man-band. Photography, design, layouts, casting, location scouting—he handles it all, combining these mixed media compositions into mini-photo zines that could be considered art projects in themselves. His most recent work has been a tech-heavy style, leaning on futuristic imagery, high-density locations, and Japanese lettering. While it may appeal mostly to fans of techwear, it’s hard not to appreciate the level of work and attention to detail that goes into each series.
Edon Tuazon Fabreo’s Urban Philippine Dioramas
Sometimes it takes some distance for you to really appreciate your home. That’s basically what happened to Edon Tuazon Fabreo. Although he’d been interested in miniature scale models since he was a kid, it wasn’t until a trip back to Manila after spending a few years in Saudia Arabia as an OFW that he decided on combining the two loves.
Suez and Farmhouse Celebrate and Critique the Jeepney
The other day we were listening to a Filipino rapper flexing about his Lambo and my friend laughed, joking that there’s probably only one Lamborghini in the Philippines and there’s nowhere to drive it. So when “Jeepney” popped up in the feed the next day, it was a reminder that rappers could highlight more accessible local lifestyles. Cebuano rapper Suez and Japanese rapper Farmhouse of Sushiboys recently dropped the colorful visuals for the track, featuring a bright yellow jeep, a fully stocked ukay ukay store, and a few local island clothing brands.
Read MoreSupport Your Friends On Collabs And Family
Support Your Friends. It’s simultaneously a brand name and statement. They’re known for a few things, but their logo caught nationwide attention when Grab snatched it without permission. The ridesharing company was using it to advertise their merger with Uber last year. And while the move went viral, with fans stepping up to defend SYF, they’ve never told their story publicly.
