Soundscapes and the City

An upside down city.

Fiona Lee is interested in what cities sound like. She takes early morning walks around Manila, exploring the park by the bay, the jeepneys crawling the streets, the mass held in churches and cathedrals, vendors hawking beauty products in markets. 

All of these paint the soundscape of a living, breathing city--one constantly mutating and changing. And yet, alongside this chaotic urban space of the present, there exists another city, long gone but its ghost lingers in what has been left behind: newspapers from another century, celebrations preserved in exposures made on glass, recordings of a radio broadcast from decades back. 

The cauldron as genie granting us a glimpse of a city long gone. 

Fiona Lee brings all of these things together using upside down projections and radios and cauldrons as speakers that might as well be genies granting a magic wish to be able to experience a city long gone right alongside the city where we are not flesh and blood. The sounds of the cities past and the present sharing the same space, crafting a view of a possible future, if we want it. 

Preview: IC Jaucian's robot drone for Transi(en)t Manila

Here's a little preview of Philippine artist Ian Carlo Jaucian's work in progress for Transi(en)t Manila. Behold the robot drone! 

Post by Ian Carlo Jaucian.

The "Gait Creeper" is a cellphone controlled crab drone. IC describes his project as a "4-legged walker. can be remote-controlled by any Android phone with the free mobile app Ardudroid (free from Play Store). Connects via bluetooth. Uses a Gizduino (Arduino clone) microcontroller and a sh**tload of batteries. Various movements/gaits possible in 2 axes. 

Next week, GAIT CREEPER will evolve into LASER CRABBER, a larger quadruped with improved walking ability and equipped with a burning laser, capable of various deeds such as laser-etched graffiti, arson and DIY cataract removals."

IC Jaucian will also be at the College of Saint Benilde's School of Design and Arts on 27 November, at 10:30AM to 12 noon. 

His drone project will be open to the public starting at 10AM, with a curator's walk through at 2PM on 29 November at the Calvo Building in Escolta. 

This project is a part of Transi(en)t Manila in Escolta, the final installment of Project Glocal, hosted by 98B COLLABoratory. 

Anjo Bolarda at The Postcard Shop

Anjo working on The Postcard Shop signage. 

Filipino artist Anjo Bolarda considers The Postcard Shop as his studio in Penang. He's been here in George Town for nearly two weeks for the Project Glocal residency. 

Turn and smile for the camera, bro. 

In the first week, he held an open studio for Portrades. People coming into The Postcard Shop can tell him stories about themselves and in return, he draws their portraits. The next week saw him working on the portraits at 28Bahari or at TPCS.

Artist Marika Constantino needs to step up for Transi(en)t Penang. 

After he has finished all the portraits, he realized that he wanted to leave something behind in his studio--a mark that he, too, was there. 

Ms. Julie's son owns The Postcard Shop,
but is gladly helping us with the work. 

He started working on a signage for The Postcard  Shop. Wooden planks were sawn and nailed to form a frame. He painted it in red and white, minimal and warm and welcoming, and yet at the same time something which still reflects his interest in Oriental and Japanese print and art.