Graffiti Off the Wall Tam-Awan Village

Tam-Awan Village Graffiti  Murals

"Off the Wall" Behind the Scenes(This is not a paid endorsement.)

A collaboration of Cordillera and Philippine artists who used aerosol paint cans and come up with a colorful, unique, and large variety of graffiti art murals. This is a difficult project since it entailed bamboo scaffolding set-up implements used as platforms to enable the artists to paint on high vertical cement walls.

A resident/pioneer Tam-awan artist - "Tandoyog", invited diverse artists and with an aim and objective to express each one's personal life advocacies in the form of graffiti art mural. The challenge is the fusion of the diverse graffiti art concept to represent the word T-A-M-A-W-A-N. 

T - synergy that is produced is an amalgamation of diverse symbolisms (bilateral symmetry) using a slimy squid ; 

A - emotional release of angst from the struggle from government's choking authoritarian noose; 

M - ubiquitous bloodsucking ticks representative of the negative effects of human population explosion;

A - represents Argentina's Evita Peron's inspired woman based struggle  

W- animism's power of creation/destruction thrives in the form of a "bulul" fertility god in thick pink pastel glory. The indigenous cultures of the Cordillera Administrative Region are highly predisposed to the belief in animism. Women who touch any of the fertility wooden/stone idols at the site increases the chances of having an increased conception.

A- A son's yearning to be one with the company of his father;  and

N- Renditions of social alienation as a balanced explosive fusion of traditional art and modern art graffiti art mural expressions. 

Behind the scenes, photo-documentation looks easy but requires the presence of mind and attention to what is going on at the moment.  

Candid action shots ...

Freeze the moment ...

Intermittent psst ... psst ... psst spray sounds

Mural detailing ... 

Tag team - duo ... teamwork ...

I made it a point to restraint myself from engaging with the artists who are deep into their own devices.

Only when a graffiti mural artist initiates interaction that I respond accordingly ... again be quick on your reflexes to capture surprising moments

The creatives vibes emanating from the artists is with a cloaking shield subtly broadcasting "don't disturb the groove "... I just have to watch and click.

Balance on bamboo scaffoldings ... I was too cautious and mindful not to distract any of the artists as they are not tethered ...  

Isolation shots ...

The handprint artist signature

Footloose ... 

Short break ... 

Busy ... Up and down 

We're getting there ... nearing completion 

Here's a wide angle shot ... a total picture of what Tam-awan and guest artists achieved at the end of the day.

Graffiti Art Mural Artists : 

Mark Tandoyog

Nikko Samson

Arvin Javier

Dexter Fernandez

Bryan Araneta

Luis Lorenzana

Demosthenes Campos

Tam-awan (in local dialect simply means a vantage point). It's a hill where one can enjoy dramatic sunset views at Tam-awan. Tam-awan Village is located in Pinsao Proper, Baguio City, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. 

The Tam-awan village dubbed as "Garden in the Sky" is a tourist destination area with strategically laid out cluster of  Cordillera indigenous huts which facilitates the confluence of city visitors/tourists who are unable to visit the other Cordillera Administrative Regions (specifically Mountain Province and Ifugao and the rest) and to have them experience these indigenous-rich cultural places in Baguio City. To immerse oneself in the village cluster saves time, effort, resources especially to a short stay tourists and maximize acculturation.

For inquiries: Call +6309175108196

Chanum Foundation, Inc.,

Tam-awan Village 366-C Pinsao Proper, Baguio City 2600, Philippines

Tel +63744462949

Telefax +63744425553 

email: [email protected]

URL: www.tam-awanvillage.com

(This is not a paid endorsement)

-fin-