Bayani Art Shows How Picture Books Are Key to Filipino Empowerment
Bayani Art
〰️
Kreative Growth Recipient
〰️
Visual Artists and Storytellers
〰️
Bayani Art 〰️ Kreative Growth Recipient 〰️ Visual Artists and Storytellers 〰️
Robin Aquilizan on the right and Gerald Mayupao on the left
Robin Aquilizan and Gerald Mayupao are no stranger to the power that visual art can have on the community. With collaborations with the Golden State Warriors, their iconic ᜃ merchandise, and 3 picture books on Philippine Revolutionaries under their belt, Bayani Art has become a well known staple of Filipino American culture.
“The goal of Bayani Art is to strengthen the unity within our community by telling the rich history of our Motherland. Humbled by the strong values that were taught by our elders, we remain conscious of our responsibility to carry on our culture.”
Bayani Art is just one of six recipients of the Kreative Growth Grant, a $3,000 to $6,000 grant Balay Kreative gives to Filipinx artists in the Bay Area, in order to launch new works of art and culture in the Filipino Cultural District in San Francisco.
In an interview with Iggy Mora and Jimmie Gabiola, Robin and Gerald talk about their newest project, why they choose picture books as a medium, and how they anticipate their journey with the Balay Kreative Grant might help them make their mark on the SOMA Pilipinas community.
Profile by Tianna Mae Andresen
Introduce yourself and your project
Robin:
Hi, everyone. I'm Robin Aquilizan.
Gerald:
And I'm Gerald Mayupao.
Robin:
We're with Bayani Art and we are making a children's book on Philippine animals through the visual arts track.
What drew you to the Balay Kreative Kreative Growth Program?
Gerald:
What drew me originally to Balay Kreative was being around a creative space among Filipino Americans in the Bay Area, as well as building and connecting with peers that are similar to me, and getting help in support of funding our project this upcoming year.
How did it feel learning you were selected to be a recipient?
Gerald:
I'm excited to be a recipient of Balay Kreative because last year, I tried out by myself and I unfortunately didn't make it but this year, with Bayani Art, I was able to get help with my friend Robin and we we got it together and I'm really excited about that.
Robin:
When I found out I was also really excited we have kind of been part of the Balay Kreative family already and so seeing y'all support this work made us super, super, excited and it really showed that our work has value, so being able to have your support was really, really exciting.
Bayani Art x Golden State Warriors Filipino Night Merchandise
What do you hope to gain from your experience?
Gerald:
What I hope to gain most out of my experience here is to build up the tools and skills necessary to achieve my goals as an entrepreneur and artist and to make art as a living.
What kind of statements are you looking to make with your art?
Gerald:
The kinds of statements I would like to build with my art is to show my unique skills but also to show representation of the Filipino community and to show the world the beauty of Filipino animals as well as to show that they're still here. I want to inspire young Filipino Americans that you could also do creative things and to show my ability of being unique but also having inspirations from things such as zoo books, Disney, anime, but in a way where my art is interpreted in my own perspective rather than interpreted in someone else's.
Robin:
I want to show that our history and culture is super rich. And that our animals have been affected by deforestation and colonization. And a lot of the time, they don't really get to tell their stories. And so we just want to showcase how beautiful and rich the resources of the Philippines are.
What would you say to aspiring Filipino artists? Why is it important for Filipinos to create?
Gerald:
Something that I would say to an aspiring Filipino creator is that it is okay to try, it is okay to try even though a lot of people around you don't believe in what you're doing. But to always pursue the things you love to do whether it be carving wood, whether it be crocheting, whether it be animation, I would like to tell everyone just to keep pushing on their goals because you want something. You go get it.
Why did you choose picture books as a medium for Filipino history?
Robin:
For Bayani books, we've been making children's books on Filipino heroes on Lapu Lapu, Gabriela Silang and Andres Bonafacio. And it was really from my experience as an educator being in the classroom where I was able to figure out how I can connect our history to students and to kids. I felt like it wasn't really the content of things, it was the art that really brought our history to life. So that's why we moved into the direction of doing a Philippine children's book, mostly through pictures.
Photo by Mogli
What role would you say your art plays in the community?
Robin:
For me, I've been seeing a lot of art books being used as a tool for educators in their classroom to connect their students with their history and culture. And that makes me so excited. It really warms my heart. And I've also seen parents use it as a tool for bedtime stories with their kids. Being able to use opportunities at times to just have conversations, I think that's the role it plays in our community.
You'll be doing so much this year as a resident artists from masterclass to developing your project. What would you tell yourself at the end of 2023?
Gerald:
I would pat myself on the back and tell myself that I did it. You know, at the end of the day, it was a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, but me and Robin, we made it happen.
Robin:
I would tell myself at the end of the year to continue doing the work and to continue taking care of yourself and like doing passion projects with people you love and care about.
We will be documenting Bayani Art and all the other recipients journeys, follow @Balaykreative to keep updated and be the first to see what each recipient's final project is!
You can also keep updated with Bayani Art through the following platforms: