MANILA, Philippines - From the streets of Buendia to an elaborate art space, Jhalanie Matuan, a homeless woman who sells her paintings for a living, is finally getting a solo exhibit of her own.
The announcement was made by artist Coco Torre on his Facebook account.
Hi guys, it's happening!
2 months ago, we've been touched by the story of an artist selling her works along the streets of Manila. Amidst the challenges and perils brought by a series of unfortunate events, she continued to pursue her calling as a visual storyteller and we just knew that her passion deserved the same recognition. This coming Friday, August 28, Jhalanie will be realizing a dream that all artists aspire to achieve. She will be having her first solo exhibit at @aspacemanila (7pm) in Makati. We hope that you can make it to this very special event and see the world from her perspective. All proceeds will directly go to her cause.
Months ago, a netizen posted a photo of Matuan painting on the streets. According to her post, the 45-year-old woman finds her refuge through her drawings, which she sells for P15 to P50 each.
Today, I had a rare encounter with this incredible artist along Buendia Avenue. I have actually been noticing her for a...
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In a report by ABSCBN, Torre said that he found out about Matuan through his friend Eric Madrazo who read posts about the artist online. The report said it took a while before Torre finally tracked the artist down.
"One day nakita ko lang siya naglalakad na random... birthday niya pa when I finally saw her," he told ABSCBN. "I was driving along Buendia after a lunch in Malate. Then I saw a figure sitting along the road," he added.
The exhibit will happen tomorrow at 7 p.m. in White Space Makati.