Still Not Still Photography Exhibit in Cebu Making Space

Hello, Hivers! I will walk you through an activity I did over the weekend: a two-day photography exhibit called Still not Still.

Found in Mango Square Business Center in Cebu City, Cebu Making Space is a space for creatives to showcase their talents. This multifaceted making space provides artists and artisans not only the space, but the tools and instruments to create, which makes it an ideal space not only for exhibits but for workshops as well. Workshops that this center could provide ranges from pottery, photography, woodworking, 3D printing, and many more.

I have only been here twice and the first time was for an art exhibit. This time, it is for a photography exhibit. Before going to the gallery to experience the exhibit, guests were invited to the photography studio for a talk.

The first speakers were two Analog Photographers, Jonathan Canoy and Cris Ong. The talk was mainly about their experiences being a photographer in Cebu City. I learned that they do a lot of street photography and they later on answered a question about how to make money as a street photographer. They revealed that it is difficult unless you have a huge social media following or you are using it to promote your other works. Although it is disappointing that they don’t get compensation from all their work, I find it admirable how they do it and continue to improve their skills at it regardless, I think that it is a testament to their passion and love for what they do.

After their talk, they held a panel discussion for the photographers whose works are displayed at the exhibit: Percival Mansueto Jr., Misterjude, Dexter Duran, and Cyril Villarante. They are all good friends and bandmates. They talked about how they curated their photos and the significance of the exhibit as a whole.

Their brief for Still not Still is movement and each of them are given the creative liberty on how they interpret it. It is also a metaphor of themselves and how although they have done and achieved a lot of things in their lives, they refuse to remain static and embrace the everchanging, everlearning, and ever-experiencing.

After the panel discussion, we headed on to the main event, the exhibit. After listening to the exhibitors talk about the exhibit, each photograph held more substance than it did then. It made me realize how much thought, effort, and luck is needed for that one shot- that one immortalized moment.

I am not comfortable with zooming in on the pictures, because although this was an exhibit, the photos still didn’t belong to me.

Aside from the exhibit, they also held a maker’s market where they collaborated with Cebuano food places to build a community.

I think this was my first photography exhibit and I am really glad I came. Sometimes, I find exhibits a little bit intimidating because I don’t know much about it compared to those who were formally educated about the arts and its specific subcategory. I feel as though I couldn't comprehend it quite as much and though that may be true, it doesn’t mean that I’d appreciate it any less. I realize that although I don’t understand grading and angles, it makes me feel something and so, in a way, it served its purpose.

It’s so important to keep all forms of art alive and to do that, we build communities and create bridges, which makes places like Cebu Making Space relevant. I am glad I got to visit and hopefully next time, I will be able to participate in other activities such as the workshops held there.

Thank you for reading!