The Celebration of Philippine Art. Part 2

Yesterday we wrote about the Philippine art collaborative project by Runit Decks, The Bicycle Sari-Sari Playing Cards deck is a vibrant celebration of Filipino creativity, featuring the work of 55 talented artists from across the Philippines. This collaborative project brings together toy designers, illustrators, graffiti artists, and other creatives, each contributing their unique artistic flair. A user picture

Let’s have a look at some more talented designers and their creations!

Vincent Triniad

Vincent Triniad is highly influenced by Japanese culture, namely retro imagery and all motives it inherits from traditional Japanese aesthetics. His card is the Jack of Hearts, and the character depicted is his signature Meowster the Cat. Under a cheeky title ‘Run Meowster Run’, there is a flattened colorful samurai with a very severe attitude, and his voluminous copy who looks way more friendly and reminds more of a sushi master, rather than Japanese assassin. Is this a magic of intermedial transformation?

Lab Monkeys

This one is carrying the Japanese samurai theme on a next level (literally, on the rooftop). The four of spades belong to Lab Monkeys who have depicted their Saru character in a manga style. The toy related is a full-scale mise-en-scene: ‘Saru final mission’ is placing Saru the samurai in his usual attire onto the pagoda-roofed traditional construction. I would not envy the landlords, as it seems like Saru's intentions are not benevolent in the case presented. The deck is intended to be hidden inside the house under the pagoda. So maybe, just maybe, the Saru here is just a guardian?

Wuji Toys

Wyvern is a mythological creature, a dragon-like beast with only one pair of legs (unlike dragons). The term is used to name a toy created by Wuji Toys for the project. This KAWSesque figurine holds strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse designer toy adaptations, except for the ears which are formed as something between Mickey's ears and dragon wings, paying homage to the figurine’s name-sake. Comfy hoodie offered in two colorways, for two versions of the deck: flashy orange for harmony version and grayish blue with acid green details for the garden one. The deck in question is impaled to the earth like an alien monolith, as a figurine leans on the top of the thing. This posture solution and soil cracks around the base of the deck brings dynamic to the whole composition, as if some emotional culmination has just ended – the other side of Laokoon.

We cannot get enough of the project, so yes – there will be the third part. Stay tuned!

Check out part 1 here.