John Paul "Japs" Antido is a storyteller and traveler, and his chosen vessel is his canvas. His dream-like paintings take audiences on a journey in the most whimsical way while discussing traditions and various diasporic phenomena.
Antido was born and raised in Antipolo City, where he currently lives and works. A graduate of Fine Arts Major in Painting at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, he is known for his signature impasto technique of laying thick paint with textured brushstrokes using vivid colors and bright hues.
Moving Library, the featured artwork in this Quaderno which is also a part of Art Fair Philippines 2015, exhibits the artist’s affinity for utilizing traditional elements and objects of antiquity as visual devices.
A quintessential street vendor, dressed in baro’t saya, carries her goods of books in a bilao. Textured brushstrokes heighten the senses and put the subject matter front and center to the viewer, evoking the question: what will the future look if stories and literature become more accessible to the common Filipino?
Moving Library (2015)
This notebook is given as a token of appreciation during the blessing and inauguration of the LANDBANK Leadership and Development Center (LLDC) located in Intramuros, Manila, on February 14, 2023.
The LLDC is positioned to be a key arm of LANDBANK to continuously develop competent Landbankers equipped with the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, social responsibility, and dedication to deliver excellent service to customers and to contribute to the Bank’s mandate of serving the nation.
The Bank started building the LLDC amid the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1995 to 2016, the former LANDBANK Training Center stood in this location.
Proceeds from this notebook collaboration will be matched with book donations to Filipino children in disadvantaged communities to support Looking for Juan's literacy advocacy and LANDBANK's Corporate Social Responsibility programs.