“Hala Viva!” blends the sound and meaning of two different/deferring concepts and events. One is taken from the collective cry of Ati-ati revelers showing persistence and perseverance despite the tiredness from street dancing during the Ati-atihan Festival (“Hala Bira!”), the other from the Southeast Asia’s longest running biennale, known as Visayan Island Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (“Viva Excon”). This portmanteau aspires to bring together artists from the Visayas regions in a fundraising exhibition to help support the upcoming VivaExcon 2025 that will be held in Kalibo, Aklan this coming November.
This exhibition’s theme took from “Hala Bira!” the good things that this cultural act signifies— persistence, perseverance, and the goal to finish what has been started; a cry, that, at times, challenge the unfriendly weather—the pouring of the rain—sometimes interpreted as a blessing: thus, “Hala Bira! Puera Pasma!”
This “conversation” between the Aklanons’ cultural legacy and the Viva Excon’s artistic vision is expected to develop beliefs, attitudes, and behavior among visual artists from different parts of the Visayas, the nation, and the world where Viva Excon 2025 could draw inspiration and support. It is a conversation that does not always lead to easy cooperation owing to artistic diversities, but could at least guarantee some space for understanding, and better yet, respect for each other’s expressive identities.
The artworks in this exhibit carry with them all the hopes and expectations of the artists for the upcoming Viva ExCon 2025.
