Los Baños– For the past two years, artists and art lovers rendezvous biannually in Los Baños to express their lust for art through Zine Orgy, an independent publishing expo where artists can exhibit and sell their works and hang out with fellow art lovers. This time, artists are preparing their comics, poetry, fiction, graphics and photography zines for its fifth run, Zine Orgy V, set to happen on November 23 at Smokehouse, One Bonitos Place, Los Baños.
Around 35 exhibitors–artists and art collectives from UPLB and Laguna–are putting their zines and artworks on the table for Zine Orgy V goers who want to browse and buy their work and exchange ideas with them. Music artists and performers will also be taking the stage throughout the event.
Zine Orgy V’s theme is voyeurism, so attendees will have to watch out for gimmicks and art works that play with the pleasure of observing and spying. Organizers Mac Arboleda (also known as the artist Asshulz) and Magpies, an art collective that explores zine-making, visual media, and other alternative collaborative forms, has teamed up with Dakila UPLB to make this happen.
As in the past four runs, one can enjoy the zine market and watch the performances for a small entrance fee of ten pesos.
Zine Orgy was conceived in 2015 as an answer to Arboleda and Magpies’ concern over the lack of a venue for the growing number of artists and zine makers in Los Baños to promote their work. On the other hand, there was also a growing number of people interested in works by local artists who did not know where to find their works. Zine Orgy became the event for artist and art lover to find each other, at a non-intimidating setup that does not cost a fortune.
Since the first Zine Orgy in 2015, Arboleda and Magpies has partnered with organizations such as UP Film Circle, the Graphic Literature Guild, and the UPLB Communication Arts Society. Zine Orgy 2 featured an open mic segment and a sticker fest, while short films by UPLB independent filmmakers were screened in Zine Orgy 3. Last Zine Orgy 4’s theme “history repeats itself” was heavily influenced by the series of protests following the Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Interactive performances commented on this and a freedom wall let attendees scribble their opinions.
Previous runs have attracted around 400 attendees, mostly from UPLB, some from other towns in Laguna, and some even commuting from Metro Manila. Posters, postcards, stickers, and handmade merchandise, aside from new zine releases, are to be expected from Zine Orgy V. For more information, contact magpiespress@gmail.com or go to their Facebook page.