IN TU: ROMMEL PIDAZO

In Rommel Pidazo’s world, there is a loosely set division between artists and craftsmen, the latter being more of salesmen. His art sails both worlds.

For four years, he experienced displaying and selling his creations along Baguio’s Session Road. Set on a mat spread on the sidewalk were necklaces, earrings, bracelets, anklets he made out of junk and found items, which he combined with beads, stones, clay, cloth and metal.

In 2008, while in seclusion for several months following a major disappointment in life, he made bigger pieces that were different from his usual accessories. These creations – a bag, a flag, a vest, to name a few – eventually found themselves exhibited on the walls of Victor Oteyza Community Arts Space (VOCAS) in Baguio, on his first group show with two fellow Baguio artists.

“Hindi ka tatawaging artist kung nakalatag sa sahig ang gawa mo. Vendor ang tawag sa iyo. Kung nasa dingding ang gawa mo, artist ang tawag sa iyo,” he observes. He doesn’t have qualms about it, at least not for someone who has been called both.

Although any label doesn’t change the essence of his works, his creations have been evolving. From accessories no bigger than what the hand can enclose, he stretched open and free, making pieces now that are big enough to cradle a baby, another even larger than a door.

The first product of this transition was a belt he made from hundreds of beer can tabs collected in an all-night art event. Next he made a belt bag from an assortment of wires, buttons, bottle caps, damaged cell phone cases, used ballpens, plastic straws, wood and anything that he found anywhere, adding to these the usual beads, stones, clay, cloth and metal.

         He seeks to create things that people haven’t seen before, using things that people have already seen before, and creating a “What’s that?” response. Garbage and junk as materials are perfect for his purpose, posing greater creative challenges and opportunities for him. Because of his choice of materials, it is concomitant that he takes frequent walks anywhere and everywhere. During these solitary explorations, he is able to contemplate, and collect whatever is strewn along his path. Every piece he creates is uniquely shaped by these walks. The things he incidentally finds on walks, even if it be the same path, will always be different.

“Garbage and junk is colorful. It is available everywhere and nobody wants them. You just have to put them together in a beautiful way. I see my work as a process of giving new life to a dead object, of reaccepting a rejected object.”

Count on Rommel Pidazo to challenge labels and reinvent perceptions.