Beyond the Walls

HAVE YOU SEEN IT?! CEBU’S FREE ART GALLERY

PUTTING AN END TO BOUNDARIES

How would you define art? For the majority of people, art may just be about sketching or painting on canvas. However, there’s a lot more to art than meets the eye. Graffiti is one artform that can be hard for people to understand and appreciate. It’s not the type of art for people who are afraid of bending the rules. Graffiti artists spend their time on hot, sunny days or dark, cold nights creating what most people may not notice (or if they do notice, they don’t appreciate it). The walls are their canvas and the streets are their gallery. The people who stop and take photos are their admirers. Now, let’s break the barriers and see who some of these street artists in Cebu really are.

SPRAY IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT: KANU

Aaron “KANU” Cano, leaves his footprints by spraying or painting on the walls of the crowded city of Cebu. He started enjoying art as a child by sketching in his notebooks. Eventually, his passion for it grew stronger so he tried other mediums to improve his own style. Maturing in different styles and becoming a flexible artist, KANU couldn’t showcase his intellect in public. Due to the desire of having his own art exhibit, graffiti found him. According to KANU, an art gallery is too expensive, which most artists can’t afford. This is where graffiti started to make sense for Kanu because he could have the liberty of his own art exhibit in public places.

Throughout KANU’s journey, he heard a lot of popular and misleading information from people who passed by his art or other artists’ pieces. Many people think that graffiti is vandalism and can’t be considered artwork. Graffiti misused can be vandalism, but graffiti used to beautify a public space uplifts the whole community. Haven’t you ever passed by graffiti that left you speechless?

THE VILLAIN SIDE OF GRAFFITI: DARK

DARK hails from the City of Smiles in Negros Occidental: Bacolod City. In this city, graffiti and putting stickers on electric posts is strictly prohibited. Many of the locals don’t appreciate graffiti, so the artwork is often repainted by the authorities or citizens. Stickers are also removed by people like tricycle drivers.

One of the ways for graffiti artists to  present their artwork is to be a villain for the name of art. Many people think that graffiti is illegal and should be banned. However, for graffiti artists, they can’t contain their talent or give up on what they’re passionate about. Talented artists like these should have an opportunity to showcase what they are capable of. However, they are left with no choice but to spray on walls and hope not to get caught by the authorities.

For DARK, playing the character as a villain in graffiti makes him push harder to become a better artist. He hopes that by becoming better, the authorities will allow graffiti artists to express their passion in public places, especially in Bacolod City.

“Just continue what you are doing, stop seeking for fame instead you should enjoy art. Take time to do some research in order for you to grow.”

— Kanu

Today, DARK lives in Cebu City and is thrilled that it’s so open to artists like him. He can make his art during daylight without being afraid of getting caught by the authorities. He sprays on walls throughout Cebu City and has recently branched out to parts of Toledo City.