It’s Ang INK’s 25th anniversary, and you’re all invited to the opening night of Tinker Tales tomorrow, Sept 12, at the Ayala Museum! It’s been years since I last joined an INK exhibit, and I’m super excited to have a piece on show (and it took me over a month to complete) alongside over 200 wonderful works by my fellow INKies. Hope to see you there!
Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) celebrates 25th year with “Tinker Tales”
Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK), the Philippines’ first and only organization of illustrators for children, marks its 25th year with its anniversary exhibit, “Tinker Tales,” slated on Sept. 12 – Oct.16 at the Third Floor Exhibition Halls, Ayala Museum, Makati Avenue cor De La Rosa St., Greenbelt Park, Makati City.
Founded in June 1991, Ang INK was the offshoot of a children’s book illustration workshop sponsored by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People and the Goethe-Institiute Manila which was conducted by visiting German book illustrator Reinhard Michl. The organization was born out of the workshop participants’ belief that a collective effort among colleagues is vital to the professionalization and development of the industry.
Since its inception, Ang INK has gone on to mount 46 group exhibits and publish several books as a group: “INKuwento” (1999), “Kuwentong Kalikasan, Katha ng Kabataan” (1999), “Water in the Ring of Fire” (1999), “Hale Hale Hoy” (2006), “Mga Tambay sa Tabi-Tabi” (2009) and “Ang INKredible Coloring Book” (2016). It has also received recognitions including the Pearl Anniversary Reading Advocacy Award (2000), a Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) citation (2001); and a Museo Pambata Award of Recognition (2014); while individual members have reaped national and international awards. Today, Ang INK members continue to create art not just for children’s books, but also for comics, magazines, newspapers, workbooks, websites, toys, games, animation, greeting cards, posters, murals, postcards, and tv commercials.
In 2016, Ang INK renews its commitment towards encouraging the creation and appreciation of illustrations for children with “Tinker Tales,” a showcase of over 200 works by Ang INK artists, inspired by stories gathered from a variety of institutions: The Raya School, San Vicente Elementary School, AHA Learning Center, Quality Life Discoveries, an ATD Fourth World-Philippines.
In “Tinker Tales,” Ang INK continues the cycle of children inspiring art which inspires children. Prompted by story stones previously created by Ang INK at the Ayala Museum, children of different backgrounds came up with different stories, which are in turn illustrated in the works featured in the exhibit. The second part of the exhibit is a new set of characters, objects, and settings that can be used for fresh stories, for the next 25 years and beyond.
Aside from the exhibit, Ang INK will also be hosting its annual INKFest (free admission with museum entrance) on Oct. 1, 10 am to 6 pm at the Ayala Museum G/F lobby, showcasing live art, merchandise tables, art activity booths, and more.
Other activities in line with the month-long anniversary celebration are the ff: Sept. 24, G/F Lobby, Book launch of Adarna House’s Kapitbahay Kubo and Kara at Play illustrated by Jamie Bauza & Pergy Acuña (10 am – 12nn, free admission); Illustration Masterclass: Secret Techniques for Award-Winning Book Illustrations facilitated by Sergio Bumatay III and Rommel Joson (2-5 PM, P1,500 registration fee); and Oct. 8, a Kiddie Arts & Crafts Party (10 am to 12 nn, G/F Lobby, free admission with museum entrance), and Sketch Afternoon, a drawing session with your favorite INKies (2-5 PM, 3/F Lobby, P650).
Tinker Tales is mounted in partnership with Ayala Museum, in cooperation with Prestige Paper Products, Fedrigoni, Canvas.ph, Sakura, Adarna House, Oishi, Wavelink, Lampara Books, Summit Books, Davies Paint, and OMF Literature.
For details and other inquiries, contact hello@ang-ink.org.
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Postscript, because the exhibit is officially open! Here are some works from the exhibit:
