“PWDe: A Virtual Exhibit” aims to empower Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) through art, making them visible to  spectators, creators, and participants. With a collection of artworks, the said exhibit  showcases various styles and mediums of Filipino PWD artists as a platform for enrichment of culture, change in attitudes, and level of awareness of abled people. The virtual exhibit runs from Dec. 3 to 11, 2020. 

Amalgam Projects is the latest collective in the local creative scene in the Philippines. Spearheaded by former Benildean Press Corps layout staffer and Arts Management alumna Kristen Alimbuyugen, the curator intended it to be a thesis exhibit under Benilde’s Arts Management program. However due to the predicaments brought by the pandemic itself, the project was continued through a virtual exhibit.

There will always be ability in disability

In partnership with The Child's World - A Growing Center Inc., PWDe: A Virtual Exhibit serves as an opportunity for people with physical disabilities and mental illness (such as Deaf, autism, and down syndrome, among others) as representatives in the creative community. 

“Our initiative is to provide a platform for new and under recognized artists and we hope to be a community for artistic exploration, experimentation, and learning with [and from] other artists,” Alimbuyuguen said in an interview with The Benildean. 

Artists are mainly from the partner institution, The Child’s World - A Growing Center Inc., a school that offers education assistance for special needs of children in Quezon City. Alongside of them include four other artists such as Benildean Press Corps former photo staffer and Photography alumnus Ricardo Yan II and current Benildean Press Corps Features writer Casey Delvo who are also part of the project. 

With its goal to serve as a wake up call, the said exhibition would like to highlight the potentials of PWD artists and not let one’s disability hinder in continuing their passion, talent, or craft.  Each artwork, sketched or digitally-processed, reflects beyond PWD artists’ personal struggles into their creative possibilities breakthroughs.

Immense into an inspirational dimension of PWDe: A Virtual Exhibit through this link. In addition, use a desktop or a laptop for the best viewing experience.