art vendors

Davao actually has the largest artist population in Mindanao, but art appreciation of local talents here is not as pronounced. Other artists had to be versatile to make ends meet. Some of them can be seen displaying their handicraft creations just like any vendors do. I talked with one and he narrated how they would sometimes be driven away and be treated just as any ordinary vendors. The city had actually produced topnotch talents but they were more admired and encouraged abroad than locally. A Davao artist now based in New York, though not given much recognition locally, was even considered one of the top contemporary surrealists in the world.

Nevertheless, local artists continue with their quests for the Muse for their inspirations spring not from bigots or the unappreciative but from the undeniably diverse beauty of Davao whom Mother Nature so blessed with.