What makes an artist?

In this modern day and age, when artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to leech itself onto the creative industry, a common question that has popped around the sphere is what exactly makes someone an artist?

Many new “AI artists” claim that having to sit down and think up prompts to type into their programs to produce rendered images grants them the title of such. Others continue with the traditional mindset that one must suffer for their art to be considered an artist. Namely, to learn about the likes of Monet, Picasso, Dali, etc., understand basic anatomy and color theory, and learn how to sketch out ideas before putting them all out on the canvas.

While there are many guidelines and rules laid out to brandish the nametag of being an artist, the fact is art remains a vague concept that will always be open to interpretation. What might be considered as art to some, could be seen as rubbish for others. It’s worth recalling that many of the great artists we know today were once shunned and ridiculed by their peers for having outlandish ideas. One example that comes to mind is Claude Monet’s impressionist movement, an art style that critics and art institutes at the time dismissed as poorly designed and unfinished.

As we face all this hullabaloo about what makes an artist, the best way to reach an answer to this is to expose ourselves to what young creatives have been making. The Ateneo Art Gallery has come up with the perfect program to help paint the picture of what defines an artist with the Ateneo Art Awards.

This year’s shortlisted artists and writers were recently announced to the public at the Grand Atrium, Shangri-la Plaza, all of whom will be vying for the Fernando Zóbel Prize for Visual Art and the Purita Kalaw- Ledesma Prize in Art Criticism.

For the Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Prize in Art Criticism, five writers from the English essay category and three from the Filipino essay category have a shot at nabbing the award and being given the opportunity to have their written works published.

Written works follow the theme of “Risks.” Essays are framed as critiques about artists, artworks, exhibitions, projects, or art events that reflect on risks and the endless possibilities that come with them.

This year’s shortlisted writers for the English category are Allyn Canja (Green Papaya Art Projects: Growing Where They Are Planted), Sean Carballo (Object Impermanence), Sam Del Castillo (The Artist as Artificer: Santiago Bose’s Self Made Worlds), Jasmin Pandi (Mebuyan’s Colony: The Monstrous and Feminine Cycle of Hope), and Madeleine O. Teh (Yeo Kaa Gives Us Strength at Art Fair Philippines 2023 –And Online).

For the Filipino category, Noji Bajet (Ang Pagong sa Kalye Pergolese), Jonathan Vergara Geronimo (Pagtatagpo at Pakikipagtunggali sa Bingit: Samo’t Saring Engkuwentro sa “Bulto Series 2022” ng Prints Para sa Bayan), and Mark Raywin Tome (Ang Paghuhulma ng Takot).

Meanwhile, the Fernando Zóbel Prize for Visual Art centers on promoting contemporary art and enriching the Philippine cultural landscape. Of the 12 nominated artists, three will be awarded and considered eligible for local residency grants funded by the Ateneo Art Gallery, in partnership with artist communities in Baguio, Quezon, Zambales, and Negros Occidental.

One shortlisted artist will also be selected as a recipient of the Embassy of Italy Purchase Prize. This year’s nominees are Jan Balquin (the difference of what is & what is not), Mars Bugaoan (Touch, Move), Rocky Cajigan (Place of Origin), Cian Dayrit (The Austere Enclave), Doktor Karayom (Sariling Sulok), Veronica Lazo (William F***ing Morris), Celine Lee (The Brightest Part), Veronica Peralejo (Collecting Fragments), Luis Antonio Santos (Threshold), Joey Alexis Singh and Jim Jasper Lumbera (The Black Dog Which Causes Cholera and the Two Memorials of Plague), Tekla Tamoria (Kiliti ng Taong Nakaupo sa Tabi) and Vien Valencia (your age, my age, & the age of the river).

Have a look for yourself and come to a conclusion about what constitutes being an artist. The exhibit will be on display at the third floor galleries of the Ateneo Art Gallery in Quezon City from Sept. 11 to Dec. 2. Visitors may also vote for their favorite exhibition through the People’s Choice poll.

 ateneoartgallery.com