This Sunday, October 27, Kwago in collaboration with WSK Festival of the Recently Possible is finally organizing their first-ever print and zine fair. Known for their annual Komura; book and zine fair with Warehouse Eight, Kwago has been working on several independent projects that deal with literature, tech, and music.
However, this is the first event where they’re putting art, print, tattoos, and zines in one rustic place in Intramuros to gather the DIY and creative communities from the Philippines and abroad, in order for everyone to stay away from the keyboard and have face-to-face conversations with good literature and music.
If you’re not enticed yet, here are 5 reasons that might convince you to spend your Sunday with them:
1. They have over 30 print and zine vendors from here and Southeast Asia
With independent bookstore Kwago’s collaboration with an international music and arts festival, it’s to be expected that they’ve gathered artists from abroad to exhibit a diverse set of artists when it comes to print and zine making. With the DIY movement spreading across multiple countries, AFK Print and Zine Fair is a celebration of different talents from around the globe, with invited artists and collectives like Poop Press, Indonesian Visual Art Archive, Komura, and more.
2. They invited a handpoke tattoo artist to pop-up throughout the day
Who feels like collecting some good prints AND getting a tattoo?
Luckily for you, Kwago invited Fil-AM handpoke tattoo artist Yanna R to pop-up during the fair and create some skin art for people. Yanna R is presently on sabbatical based in the Philippines. This practice, Yanna R shares, centers the need to develop, share, and decolonize avenues to self-care. Yanna’s experiences as an artist and scholar from the Southeastern United States offer a unique perspective on intergenerational trauma, resilience, and exchange. In tattooing, they hope to create space for everyone to comfortably and authentically explore and exist.
What’s better? It’s only PHP1,300 minimum for an authentic handpoke tatt!
3. There’s gonna be a live painting by visual artist Tyang Karyel
To keep the intimate nature of the event, AFK is also featuring homegrown artist Tyang Karyel to do a live painting during the fair. Known for her colorful artworks usually in woodworks, Tyang will add a pop of crazy and sari saring materials from the oddest locations, resulting in what she may call “trash drawings.”
4. It’s a collaboration between Kwago and WSK
While Kwago has always been keen on collaborating with other creative collectives or individuals they believe in, this special project is born out of Kwago and WSK’s commitment and passion for the DIY ethic. With a ton of mainstream institutions that may or may not restrain one’s creative freedom, the DIY movement allows for the liberation of an artist to create and exhibit their work in the rawest way they want to–like through this independent fair supported by WSK.
Later that night after the AFK Fair, WSK is closing its 13-day festival at the Rajah Sulayman Theatre, Intramuros. Talk about a perfect after-party!
5. It’s Free Museum Day in Intramuros that day! 2 birds, one stone!
If Intramuros is a little too far for you, worry not, because AFK made sure that your travel to Manila can also be packed with various activities for your friends or your family to enjoy further with free admission to museums that day! For this day only, Intramuros is opening its doors for over 10 museums surrounding Casa Manila Intramuros, where AFK will be held!
Are you convinced yet? For more details, visit bit.ly/awayfromkeyboard
AFK will be held in Loggia, Casa Manila Intramuros. The entrance fee is only Php100 for the entire day!
InqPOP! Creator Community/Bea Constantino
