This 2011, Majica MassKara is already on its 8th year as part of the MassKara Festival celebration. It is already part of the highlights of Bacolod's famous festival and has brought Bacolod's artists artworks into a new level that people, the young and the old, can relate to.
In the 32nd MassKara Festival, the 8th installation of Majica MassKara is dubbed as the "Dreamer's Floating Carousel". The six 3-dimensional artworks on paperboats floating on the fountain area of Bacolod's New Government Center building are made by Charlie Co in collaboration with the local artists lead by Neil Benavente.
"One thing that makes this very, very relevant in the Philippine art scene is that this is an example of an art work that goes down to the level of entertainment without compromising its artistic values. This is art that the people-the masses, even the unschooled, and the children-can understand." Festival director Eli F. J. Tajanlangit said.
The "Dreamer's Floating Carousel" came from an idea of paper boats we made when we were still small. The artworks are 8-ft. by 8-ft. in size. It took the artists two (2) months to complete all of the six 3-dimensional masterpieces.
"The ‘Dreamer's Floating Carousel' is to challenge people to think out of the box. They should dream. Anything is possible. The power of dreams and the power of the arts can change things, can make the world better," Charlie Co said.
"The MassKara Festival is a celebration of the best of Bacolod and everything its people hold dear. And that can be delivered most dramatically by artists." Eli Tajanlangit added.
"The major reason MassKara continued to become so big is because we have talents and artists in Bacolod who have contributed so much in making the MassKara festival what it is today." Mayor Evelio Leonardia said. "Masskara is MassKara because our people had embraced this festival and take the MassKara as part of our life and culture in Bacolod," he added.
So if you're in Bacolod every October to celebrate the MassKara Festival, don't miss to visit the Majica MassKara at the New Government Center too!
About the Artist: Charlie Co
Charlie Co is a top Filipino artist based in Bacolod. He's born in the country in 1960. In 1984 he studied at La Consolacion College (Bacolod) and in 1984 at Philippines Women's University (Manila) both under the College of Fine Arts. Charlie had his first solo exhibit in 1983. And, has now more than 20 plus solo exhibitions in Philippines and Australia and has participated in over 30 group shows.
Charlie is known as a social realist in the mid-1980s. Also, he later developed his interest in figurative expressionism that borders on surrealism. He also had represented the country in the following exhibition:
• 1995 - Asian Modernism at the Japan Foundation ASEAN Culture Center in Tokyo, Japan
• 1996 - 23rd Sao Paolo Biennial in Brazil
bull; 1996 - 2nd Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane, Australia
• 1997 - 2nd International Claywork Symposium and Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan
• 1997 - Taegu Asia Arts Exhibition in Korea
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Sources:
www.themasskarafestival.com
And, thank you to Daryl Jimenea for the photos.
