With over 580 artists, Komiket 2019: The Filipino Komiks and Art Market showcased local komiks from talented artists in the community and enticed new readers to the beauty of its medium.
Photo by Denise Paule
Since its launch in April 2015, Komiket has been an avenue in discovering new creators and advocacies to share one’s komiks, stickers, postcards, and prints to the general audience.
Love is love
Celebrating love and acceptance towards the LGBTQIA+ community, the annual komiks anthology, Kommunity 2019: The LGBTQ+ Issue, features a talent pool of award-winning LGBTQIA+ creators as a freebie for the first 2,000 attendees.
Photo by Denise Paule
These talented creators include Emiliana Kampilan, Betina Continuado, Mich Cervantes, Matt Alea, Nowhere Bear, Yanna Sta. Ana, Tristan Yuvienco, Talya Pangilinan, CJ Reynaldo, Lauren Baldo, Brent Sabas, Electromilk, Nina Martinez, Landlee, Bianca Maranan, G3 San Diego, Blubulan, Cy Vendivil, Rini Geronimo, M. Protacio-De Guzman, Ardie Aquino, Andrew Drilon, Jap Mikel, and Japhers.
Photo by Denise Paule
The Benildean artist
In an interview with The Benildean, visual artist Ivy Berces, an Animation student of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), shared her experience as Komiket exhibitor.
“I’ve tabled at Komiket before, and it’s always a blast to table in these events because of all the people and fellow artists that I meet,” she said.
Moreover, Berces enjoys free expression and finding her audience online. With gratitude, her artwork’s subtleness can be a way to appreciate art. As an artist who doesn’t express her art in a straightforward manner, she says, “there’s something poetic in things left unsaid.”
An Art Editor for the Benildean Press Corps, the College’s official student-journalists’ organization, Berces shared how Komiket is a place free from discrimination.
“I think Komiket is a really good place for the [LGBTQIA+] community, especially because we artists in general are very open minded, and we know how it feels to be left out just because of something you love or like to do. Moreover, since a lot of artists I know are part of the [LGBTQIA+] community, I’m very glad for them that they have Komiket, among other spaces, to be a place free of discrimination and just have plain love of art.”
Through Komiket, aspiring artists and creators, including Benildeans, have a place to express their talents and skills by kick starting their careers in the market industry. As held bi-annually, the last event was February 16 to 17, 2019.
Komiket was a two-day comics convention held from October 12 to 13, 2019 at Centris Elements EDSA cor. Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.
