Urban art, PH dream in ToyCon 2013

Ryan Songalia

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Toy designer Evan Aguiling is helping bring urban art to more Filipinos

URBAN ART. Artist Evan Aguiling poses beside a poster for one of his creations, Ganmetal Celsius. All photos by Ryan Songalia

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of years into the future, after the human race has been wiped out by nuclear warfare, cockroaches will rule the Earth. Eventually, when they evolve to be intelligent beings, they will dig up fossil remains of animals from the human era. They will confuse orangutan skeletons for the human race, and will put them on display at museums labeled incorrectly as human remains.

At least this is the way Maryland-based psychiatrist Dr. Frederick Corder explained his concept to Filipino toy designer Evan Aguiling, moments after meeting him at ToyCon 2011.

Corder, whose company is called Pockets Fulla Pillz, commissioned Aguiling to design this model known as “The Orangutan Skeleton.” Whether Corder’s inspiration comes from “pillz” he is taking, or springs from a void of “pillz” that he needs to be taking, is left to speculation.

What is irrefutable is that the models, limited to 20 and selling for US$ 500, were unveiled at ToyCon 2013. The event began today and runs through Sunday at the SM Megatrade Halls 1, 2, 3 and Function Rooms A and B. They are located at the 5th floor of SM Mega Mall in Ortigas.

Pop culture extravaganza

ART EVOLUTION. Aguiling was commissioned to design this work of urban art called 'The Orangutan Skeleton'

ToyCon, which is in its 12th year, advertises itself as “the biggest pop culture event in the country.” It is the Philippine equivalent of the wildly popular Comic Con events in America, where dealers and fans converge to buy, sell and gawk at the latest toys and collectibles in the manga, anime and comic sub-cultures.

If that’s not something you’re into, there are also girls dressed as Sailor Moon characters and Princess Leia, among the many other costume players or “cosplayers” who frequent the events.

Aguiling, who is the creative force behind Buhawi Studios, has been coming to ToyCon each year since 2005, selling figures he has sculpted.

His passion for art began as a child growing up in Laguna, where, instead of playing with children outside, he sat in front of the television drawing the Hanna Barbara cartoons he saw on the screen. When he got older, Aguiling attended University of Philippines Diliman, majoring in Fine Arts and Visual Communication.

After being promoted to art director at the art exporting company he worked for, Aguiling ceased his studies to focus on the demanding job. Aguiling remained at that company for 12 years before going into business on his own.

‘Mutilated’ art

Today, Aguiling is a practitioner of what is known as urban art, a vague term used to describe an alternative art sub-culture borne out of acts previously dismissed as vandalism or refuse.

“What they used to do is dismantle different toys and put them together in weird ways,” explained 37-year-old Aguiling. “They would get a Barbie and get the head from a different doll, and it looks like mutilated art. Eventually they figured out a name for that kind of art because it doesn’t look like any kind of art that we see in museums.”

One of the main selling points of urban art is that the pieces are produced in limited quantity, with the maximum number of units per model being about 150. The prices of these works tend to be higher than most mass-produced figurines, relegating urban art to an avid, niche market.

Some urban art designers, like Bearbrick and Munny & Dunny, have managed to get their figurines into mainstream pop art in recent years.

Aguiling’s other work includes designing a figurine for Filipino boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and a 3-dimensional sculpture of a poster commissioned by famed New York-based painter Tara McPherson.

Ganmetal Celsius

ROBOT DREAMS. Aguiling's 'Ganmetal Celsius' sold out at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con

One of his favorite projects is Ganmetal Celsius, a “kickass robot,” as Aguiling describes it, made out of vinyl and accompanied by a gun, ammunition, wings and a small comic book.

According to the accompanying box, Ganmetal was “created for the sole purpose of serving the evil Gunryu empire,” but was “stolen by the S3uck team, a small renegade squad who fights for justice and freedom led by Mr. Censored.”

Ganmetal Celsius debuted at San Diego Comic Con in 2009 and instantly sold out on all 300 units, but has yet to catch on here in the Philippines.

“Artists in general (become) more popular overseas first before they make it here,” reasoned Aguiling. “I’m trying to promote him here, but I’m horrible at it.”

However unlikely, Aguiling’s dream situation would be to see a random cosplayer walk by wearing a Ganmetal outfit.

“That would mean he’s mainstream. That would mean I’ve done my job.” – Rappler.com


Ryan Songalia


Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com. An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RyanSongalia

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