How Sining Filipina is empowering women in the creative realm
For centuries, women have been primarily depicted in art as muses, objects of beauty, or embodiments of certain ideals. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it often limits the portrayal of women’s full range of experiences and perspectives.
In this respect, Sining Filipina is actively challenging this dynamic creating a platform specially designed for female artists.
Introduced by BDO Unibank, Inc. and SM Supermalls, in collaboration with the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs, the inaugural all-female national art competition in the Philippines aims to provide a platform for Filipinas to express their artistic talents, positioning them as creators of art and empowering them in the creative realm.
With both Figurative and Non-Figurative categories, Sining Filipina invites participants to showcase their distinctive perspectives on contemporary womanhood.
At the official launch of the competition, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan said, “Today marks the beginning of our year-long celebration honoring women, a longstanding passion of SM. Through this initiative, we continue to create opportunities for women to refine their skills, contributing to our shared journey toward an inclusive and empowering society for all.”
Marla Alvarez, BDO Unibank Vice President and Head of Sustainability Office, highlighted the importance of this initiative in the bank’s core mission to ‘find ways’ for Filipinos. She emphasized the bank’s extensive art collection and its commitment to gender empowerment, pointing out that 75 percent of the population is women, with 58 percent of the leadership being women.
Alvarez stated, “Providing a platform for women to express themselves is one of the ways that BDO supports women, extending our support beyond consumers and entrepreneurs.”
Vice President of Zonta Club of Makati and Environs, Joanne Zapanta-Andrada, shared that the competition’s theme is “Women Power,” addressing the question, “How do women see themselves?”
Zapanta-Andrada stressed the significance of competitions like Sining Filipina in expanding the art world’s inclusivity and authenticity and elevating Filipino artists to new heights.
Discussing their expectations for the submissions, the women on stage expressed a desire to be surprised. Joanne emphasized wanting to see fresh, non-stereotypical artworks with impact and emotion. Marla looked forward to witnessing women’s representations of themselves across various life stages, acknowledging the dynamic changes that occur with age.
Contestants are encouraged to submit original artworks – entirely conceived and executed by themselves – by Jan. 31.
The competition offers P250,000 for the First Place Winner, “providing recognition and a significant boost to their artistic journey.”
For a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics, application process, and guidelines, interested participants can visit https://zontaclubme.com/sining-filipina/. Inquiries can be directed to [email protected].