The feminine art of social change
Nikki Luna has much to say about women, children and their roles in society. For her college thesis (Fine Arts at UP Diliman), she molded a cotton and plaster cast of her own breast and, using the mold as a starting point, created a series of ascending and descending formations. That collection of installation art summed up Nikki’s view of the ideological cycle a woman experiences.
“A woman is nurtured literally through the breast of her mother, as she grows, she searches for her identity through the internal and external perceptions and forces that surround her. I used baby’s cotton diapers as my cast material precisely because they symbolize the parent-child relationship many of us encounter,” Nikki shares.
Nikki is willful, passionate, socially-aware and opinionated. (“A mix of my personality and my UP upbringing!” she laughs.) She represents a growing breed of modern Filipino visual artists. Keenly aware that she has been blessed with a multitude of resources and opportunities, New York-trained Nikki is presently focused on promoting gifted local artists who do not enjoy the advantages that she has been given.
“There are so many young people who are brimming with talent but do not have the wherewithal to create and to showcase their work. The day-to-day concerns bog them down. Certainly this is a reality of life that many people contend with. But another reality is the existence of people who believe in the Filipino artist and who believe in them enough to invest time, effort and resources in order to have their (the artists’) works noticed.”
Another cause very close to Nikki’s heart is the empowerment of abused children through the arts. Of late, Nikki has teamed up with Zonta Club of
“The horrors these children face oftentimes are unspeakable. Clearly the girls that come into Marillac Hills arrive extremely traumatized. Physical wounds are quick to heal but psychological/ emotional hurts cut deep and can be difficult to rehabilitate. Art is a powerful medium of expression. It is one of the greatest venues of release and is fairly simple to set up,” explains Nikki. “Art has the power to heal and I believe that it is the role of artists to not only be a medium of aesthetic beauty but also to be a catalyst for positive social change.”
Nikki sees a European sabbatical in the near future as well as a studio to showcase her pieces as well as the works of her fellow artists. “The enjoyment of art is a right that should be available to everyone regardless of socio-economic status. Art is a great medium that celebrates the human spirit. It is a great healer and a powerful vehicle for positive change.”
