A Brush with Imagination: A First Look at CANVAS’s 20-Year Anniversary Celebration
June 13, 2025 by Rain De Ocampo
Twenty years. Two decades of weaving art and stories into the fabric of the Filipino consciousness. This is the milestone being celebrated by the Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS), and I had the privilege of getting a firsthand look at how they’re marking this incredible journey. The pre-launch media tour of their anniversary exhibition, “CANVAS: 20 Years of Art and Stories,” was more than just an event; it was an immersive dive into a world where a child’s imagination, sparked by a book or a brushstroke, holds the power to change the world.
Walking into Galleries 25 & 26 of the National Museum of Fine Arts, the air was thick with anticipation. For two decades, CANVAS has championed literacy and explored our national identity by connecting the creative community with the public. Their mission, as founder and executive director Gigo Alampay shared, began with a simple, profound belief.
“We cling to the hope and possibility that somewhere down the line, one of the books that we publish, one of the artworks that we show, or one of ideas that we share, will trigger the imagination of one child who will then be moved to change the world for the better,” he says.”
This powerful sentiment is the thread that ties their entire history together, from their very first publication, Elias and His Trees in 2005, to a library of over 50 titles today. These aren’t just books; they are conversations about children’s rights, environmental stewardship, democracy, and the complex beauty of human relationships. Titles like the award-winning Hanapin Ang Sagot: Ano Ang Batas Militar? and the heartwarming I Like Wearing Rainbows have become cultural touchstones, with some stories even leaping from the page to the stage. This literary magic is made possible through collaborations with titans of Philippine literature like Vim Nadera, Cyan Abad-Jugo, and Butch Dalisay.
But the stories are only half the equation. The visual art is what makes them breathe. The roll call of artists who have lent their genius to CANVAS is a veritable who’s who of the Philippine art scene: National Artist BenCab, Elmer Borlongan, Joy Mallari, Leeroy New, Daniel dela Cruz, and countless others have brought worlds to life. Their iconic works are the heart of this anniversary exhibition.
An Invitation to Interact and Imagine
As I explored the exhibit, it became clear that this was not a traditional, hands-off gallery experience. Curated by Jaime Pacena II, the space is a playground for the mind, thoughtfully designed to engage its youngest visitors. The exhibition is brilliantly segmented into themes, each an advocacy close to CANVAS’s heart.
“Ode to a Young Reader” serves as a beautiful welcome, with archways beckoning children to enter and explore a world dedicated to the love of reading.
The “I Am the Change in Climate Change” section is a standout. A spinning roulette offers fun, eco-friendly activities, while a matching game called “Everything Is Connected” brilliantly illustrates the cause and effect of our actions on nature.
In a nod to our digital age, the “Safe Space” area tackles internet safety. A magnetic board exploring the capabilities of AI invites kids to place magnets indicating if they feel a function is helpful, worrisome, or if they’re undecided—a fantastic tool for sparking critical family conversations.
The “Karapat Dapat” section, focusing on children’s rights, is a space of comfort and affirmation, complete with pillows, mats, and mirrors etched with motivational words, perfect for a moment of reflection (and a selfie).
At the center of it all is “Read. Imagine. Create.”—a vibrant hub for reading and resting, which will host a calendar of workshops on storytelling, illustration, art appreciation, and even upcycling.
Alampay shared the vision behind this unique approach.
“Curation goes beyond the act of selecting—it is an act of care,” he explained. “We wanted to show a collective portrait of the values, stories, and creative energies that have shaped CANVAS… To complete this experience, we partnered with Arkisens, a collective of artist-architects, whose contribution helped translate the curatorial vision into a tangible, spatial encounter.”
A Glimpse of a Grand Future
This year-long exhibition is also a tantalizing preview of something even bigger: the soon-to-open Tumba-Tumba Children’s Museum of Philippine Art in Ibaan, Batangas. This will be the permanent home for the breathtaking collection CANVAS has amassed. Situated on a sprawling 15,000-sqm property, the museum site already boasts incredible installations, including Elmer Borlongan and Lito Mondejar’s “Tree Huggers” and Leeroy New’s awe-inspiring spaceship structure, “I Am the Explorer.”
As CANVAS continues to build this dream, its other vital initiatives press on. The “One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children” campaign continues to donate books to underserved communities nationwide, while their Art for Development program uses public art to foster dialogue on critical national issues.
Leaving the preview, I felt a profound sense of optimism. CANVAS has spent twenty years planting seeds of hope, creativity, and critical thought. In a world that often feels overwhelming, their work is a powerful reminder that art is not a luxury, but a fundamental tool for building a better future, one story, one painting, and one inspired child at a time.
Visit the Exhibition:
What: CANVAS: 20 Years of Art and Stories
Where: Galleries 25 & 26, Fourth Floor, National Museum of Fine Arts
When: June 14, 2025 – June 2026
Stay Connected and Learn More:
CANVAS: www.canvas.ph | Facebook: @canvas.ph | Instagram: @canvasph.art
Tumba-Tumba Museum: www.tumbatumba.ph
If Trees Could Talk Biennale: www.iftreescouldtalk.art
Participating Artists in “CANVAS: 20 Years of Art and Stories”: Aldy Aguirre, Marcel Antonio, Mark Dawn Arcamo, Renz Baluyot, Renato Barja Jr., Jeho Bitancor, Elmer Borlongan, Michael Cacnio, BenCab, Daniel Dela Cruz, Cedrick Dela Paz, June Digan, Abi Dionisio, Door 305 Artist Collective, Nina Garibay, Emmanuel Garibay, Sarah Geneblazo, Renato Habulan, Johanna Helmuth, Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan, Jon Jaylo, Mark Justiniani, Dante Lerma, Liza Flores, Alynnah Macla, Jonathan Madeja, Lui Manaig, Joy Mallari, Dengcoy Miel, Lito Mondejar, Ferdie Montemayor, Roel Obemio, Jim Orencio, Jaime Pacena II, Anthony Palomo, Don Salubayba, Sangviaje, Jose John Santos III, Pam Yan-Santos, Susanito Sarnate, Mr. S, STUDIO 1616, CJ Tanedo, Rodel Tapaya, Palma Tayona, Mimi Tecson, Liv Vinluan, and Christopher Yap.
