This year's theme for the Tubo Cebu Art Fair centered on resonance. A quick internet search would give you the definition of reinforcement or amplification. It could be related to sound or, in this case, art. Whenever I remember those four days that went by, it is indeed more than just an amplification of Cebuano art after nine years. It is a legacy that is yet to continue for the years to come.
I grew up watching the art scene as a student from the University of the Philippines. The big names in the industry used to be my teachers or artists that I would watch as they came in and out of the faculty room. I was always fascinated at how they worked and mingled with one another. They brought to the art scene innovations and new perspectives on how life is to be mimicked by their craft. Of course, they take after the maestro, Martino Abellana, who has left more than a mark in UP Cebu and even in another institution. If we are to reference a parable from the Bible, it is the fruit of their labor. The seeds planted are now growing and multiplying.
To me, that's how resonance is. It is continuing what has started in order for life to flourish. The many times I walked the hallways to scan this year’s art fair, I looked to my left and right and saw young artists. Others were students, and many were aspiring to be one as well. They enjoyed the company of their elders who became their peers. They exchanged more than contacts but techniques, insights, and work that would one day connect them to the real world. While there is monetary value involved, nothing can beat a really strong connection forged in fairs like this.
Perhaps this is also what makes an art fair important. It is not only about putting artworks on walls or giving artists a space to sell their work. It is about creating a space where conversations happen and where one artist's experience can influence another. It is about giving someone the courage to start, to continue, or simply to believe that there is a place for them in the community. These moments may seem small, but they can create an impact that can be felt long after the fair ends. Sometimes, the influence of art cannot be measured by what is sold, but by what is passed on.
I look forward to the day that Cebu, as a community, will grow even more in the appreciation of the arts. Art fairs like these may be the start for the love of some. Eventually, we learn its importance as well. I commend parents who are supporting their young children to pursue what they love and reject the notion of it being unlucrative. After all, it is about chasing one's dreams and allowing them to take root. I guess resonance applies here too. It only takes a person to start and the rest will follow after.