In a year marked by devastating earthquakes, landscape-altering typhoons, and ongoing corruption scandals, the Philippine art community has chosen resilience over retreat. The Visayas Art Fair (VAF), now in its fifth year, emerged as a powerful beacon of hope from November 15 to 18, 2025, transforming the Oakridge Studio in Mandaue City, Cebu into a vibrant hub of creative resistance and community healing.
Art as Civic Instrument in Times of Crisis
Under the theme "Infinite Perspectives: Unbound Creativity," the fair organized by the Cebu Culture Art and Design Foundation became more than just an exhibition—it evolved into a platform for democratic expression. While many might expect cultural events to diminish during times of hardship, the VAF demonstrated the opposite, proving that art becomes most essential when societies face their greatest challenges.
One of the most poignant displays came from artist James Donn-Webb, whose works bore visible traces of Typhoon Tino's destruction. The damage to his studio became integrated into his art, creating pieces that spoke the raw language of loss and resilience. Rather than diminishing the work's impact, these marks of adversity lent it profound honesty and emotional depth.
Confronting Corruption Through Creative Expression
The fair courageously addressed political issues, providing artists with a sanctioned space for open dissent. A standout installation, "Crocodylus corruptus biped," became an interactive platform where both creators and visitors could paint on crocodile figures, symbolically confronting the forces damaging the nation. This collective artistic action transformed individual outrage into shared awareness, demonstrating art's power as a tool for social commentary.
Throughout the exhibition, paintings and installations exploded with fierce energy, using vibrant colors to express anger against betrayal of public trust and the institutional indifference that exacerbates natural disasters through greed. The artworks served as both protest and catharsis, channeling collective frustration into meaningful creative output.
From Exhibition to Humanitarian Mission
In response to Typhoon Tino's recent impact, the organizers made a crucial decision that transformed the event from mere cultural gathering to active humanitarian effort. They announced that all ticket sales would directly benefit flood victims affected by the typhoon. Additionally, the fair established a donation drive where attendees could contribute essential supplies, including a special corner collecting toys for children who survived the storm.
This strategic move made attendance at the fair an act of solidarity and support, allowing visitors to participate in both cultural enrichment and disaster relief simultaneously. The approach demonstrated how creative industries can directly contribute to community recovery efforts while maintaining their cultural mission.
The Healing Power of Collective Creativity
Beyond the political statements and fundraising efforts, the fair served as genuine therapy for a traumatized community. Visitors gathered around canvases as if sharing confessions, creating what felt like a collective breath after a year filled with shared trauma. Cultural workers, volunteers, and artists participated not for recognition but because they understood culture's vital role when the very ground beneath people's feet feels unstable.
Amid the anger and protest, moments of tenderness emerged. Smaller works spoke of daily intimacy and personal loss: a mangled house repaired in acrylic, an installation of mud-caked bicycles and floodwater boots, and a powerful piece titled "Luha ni Tino" featuring a 30-liter bottle of flooded water contained within a gallon container.
The Visayas Art Fair ultimately highlighted the inseparable connection between visual arts and creative industries, proving that culture can drive both economic recovery and emotional healing. As Cebu strives to establish itself as a recognized creative city, events like the VAF demonstrate that cultural development isn't merely about pride—it's essential for regions needing both economic diversity and collective healing. In this space, exhibitors and visitors alike actively contributed to shaping a cultural future where art serves not just as remembrance, but as a powerful act of resistance that energizes communities and inspires the nation to confront its challenges and pursue meaningful change.
