Art Gap 10 shows Kapuso employees' artistic side

Last Thursday, June 23, some artistic office workers took an afternoon break to flex their creative muscles in Art Gap 10, a yearly contest open to GMA Network's employees and talents. GMA News Online's graphic artist Analyn Perez was one of the 38 contestants, who came from different departments like ICT, Program Support, Post production, News and Public Affairs, GMA New Media, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Engineering, GMA Worldwide, Script 2010 and GMA marketing. Since 2001, Art Gap has been a venue for exhibiting creative artworks through various media — paintings, sculptures and photography. This year, the contest was an on-the-spot caricature-drawing contest. This year's theme was Guhit Kapuso, with the contestants tasked to capture the essence of a Kapuso personality through an engaging and spot-on likeness of exceptional GMA personalities through caricature. GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon was among the subjects, along with GMA News Online editor-in-chief Howie Severino and other Kapuso personalities Mike Enriquez, Arnold Clavio, Kara David, Kuya Germs, Mel Tiangco, Marian Rivera, Richard Gutierrez and Heart Evangelista.

"If you are the one making the caricature you might be timid or intimidated about exaggerating the facial features of your subject, especially if he is your boss," said Gozon, who welcomed the contestants by wishing them a humorous "good arternoon." "If you are the subject of the caricature, you might not be too happy seeing your portrait with a giant nose," he added, looking around and noting that Mike Enriquez was not around. Turning serious, Gozon said that "looking at the portrait makes you realize that you are only human and that you are not perfect." "It is good to laugh at ourselves in the name of art," he said. In any case, the contestants did not have to worry about offending anyone, as all the subjects had consented to be caricatured. "Kailangan everybody's really on board. Luckily lahat ng inapproach na officers and executives, very supportive. When we said, 'Sir, pwede po ba kayong maging subject ng caricature?' they said sure. Even FLG (Gozon’s initials) is a very good sport," said AVP for Corporate Affairs Teresa Pacis. She explained that the subjects were a combination of popular personalities in the network, as well as people who provide key services. Caricatures were judged based on likeness, exaggeration, line quality and composition. Contestants were given an hour to conceptualize and draw their caricature. To relax the contestants, there was live music courtesy of the Artist Center's Rey Talosig, Corporate Communications' Ghia San Pedro, Post Production's Joseph Olfindo, Corporate Affairs' Ria Estrada, PSD's Marc Baluyan and GMA News TV's Ivy Magparangalan. Despite being under time pressure, the contestants completed their work within the given time. In fact, some discovered they needed less than an hour to come up with a satisfactory caricature. Jay Javier of the Program Support Department, who received a special award for finishing first, said the key to speed-drawing is nervousness. Kidding aside, he admitted that it was a scary experience. "Lalo na yung mga kasama mo alam mong magagaling," he said. Judges The board of judges was composed of two of the country's renowned cartoonists, Pol Medina Jr. and Manix Abrera. Exaggeration is the main ingredient in caricatures, according to Medina, creator of the popular Pugad Baboy comic strips. "Hanapin mo yung prominent na feature ng mukha niya, o i-exaggerate mo kung ano yung special na feature niya," he said. "Kailangan kilala mo, halimbawa dati, gumagawa kami ng editorial cartoon, ang pinakamainit na issue na ivolved siya. Kapag yun ang na feature mo, kilala kaagad, kasi nasa news siya, napaka visible. kaya dapat yung pinakamainit, yung pinakahinog," he added, admitting that he himself found it difficult to do caricatures. Medina had to do caricatures for a week at the Philippine Daily Inquirer when editorial cartoonist Jess Abrera took a leave of absence to spend Holy Week with his family. "Napilitan ako kasi yung tatay nito nagbakasyon, sabi niya 'boss ikaw na muna bahala,' kaya ayun, napilitan ako matuto," laughed Medina, gesturing toward Manix Abrera of Kikomachine fame. "Yun ang pinakamahina ako. 'Pag nag-caricature ako siguro thirty minutes akong kinukuha yung pencils, tapos pag ini-ink na mga one and a half hours. 'Di katulad ng tatay nito, konting lines lang kuha kaagad yung mukha. Bilib ako magcaricature itong tatay nito," he said. The younger Abrera, for his part, said he feels unworthy of the job, saying it was embarrassing especially since some of the contestants belonged to higher batches at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, where he graduated from. But both judges were happy to be involved in the contest, and after a few minutes decided on a winner. "Hindi pa i-aannounce, pero ang galing! Malayo pa lang, siyang-siya na talaga," said Abrera. The winners of Art Gap 10 will be announced during the general assembly on July 12. The contest entries are on display at the second floor mezzanine of the GMA Network Center until June 30. — KBK, GMA News