Highlights
- He has always been creative even as a child.
- Manny uses art to heal and discover his heritage.
- Pabalat is a Bulacan paper-cutting art style done on thin paper and used for wrapping pastillas [sweet milk candies].
"Oh man, art is my superpower. It's something that protects me and empowers me. It gives me hope. It's given me so much in my life. It's a big part of who I am."
And who Manny Sison is is as authentic of an artist there is - someone who gets lost and found in the practice and, creates form and meaning in the work.
Manny Sison, graphic designer and paper artist Source: Manny Sison
From Bulacan to Brimbank
Born of parents from Bulacan, Manny and his family moved to Brimbank when he was 4-years old.
"Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of cool stuff," he laughs, adding, "Mom introduced me to movies like E.T. and Indiana Jones. My older cousin Fred introduced me to cartoons like He-Man and GI Joe."
"I was an only child until I was 15, so I only had myself, my imagination and my toys. My mum and cousin introducing me to all those cool stuff helped bring out my creativity."
"I was an only child until I was 15, so I only had myself, my imagination and my toys." Source: Manny Sison
That creativity was furthered with doodling cartoon characters and fan art on school books when classes got boring for Manny.
"I was always the creative kid. Going into high school, I decided to do a lot of art subjects. I did studio arts and media, then I did a course in multimedia and graphic design."
Looking for meaning
Manny shares that his second year of graphic design studies was "disorientating," admitting that there was a corporate coldness to the course that simply didn't sit well with him.
"The teachers weren't nurturing. I think they were trying to replicate a professional studio vibe but it felt like we were being processed on a conveyor belt. Teachers had their favourites and neglected the others. It left a bad taste in my mouth."
MONSTER MAY-HEM DAY27: Three Headed Source: Manny Sison
Rinsing out the bad taste for Manny meant making up for the lack of support he experienced.
"I enrolled in Youth Work in Victoria University to sort of correct their mistake. I wanted to teach art and provide a more nurturing environment."
After doing a year's worth of contract work for Victoria University creating learning modules for students, Manny found his way into community arts.
Manny worked as a graphic artist and design workshop speaker at the 2015 Movement Makers Youth Arts Forum. Source: Manny Sison
"Community arts is about bringing people together through the power of art. It's a more meaningful practice," he shares, laughing, "The funny thing is I ended up doing graphic design. At least I was able to utilise my skills in a meaningful way doing graphic design work for a local government youth service in Brimbank and Melton."
Manny at the 2016 Sole Movement Artist Panel. Source: Nicola Dracoulis
The art of healing
Though Manny enjoyed youth work, he confessed he needed to stop working for the sake of his mental health.
"I went through a really bad breakup at the end of 2017. It was the end of a very long-term relationship - we're talking 14 years. I was lost for a very long time after that.
"I just didn't care anymore. I gravitated towards mixed media. I just wanted to do whatever art I wanted."
He shared the art he wanted to do on Instagram, admitting that it was his way of finding some sort of relief and connection.
"Limbo" by Manny Sison Source: Manny Sison
A connection he found was with someone from an organisation called RAW, looking for emerging artists to showcase.
"I got an invitation to display my art in one of their shows. It was crazy. It was April 2019. That was when my personal art career took off."
His personal art career now mainly involves a versatile medium that requires a lot of persistence, patience and precision.
His personal art career now mainly involves a versatile medium that requires a lot of persistence, patience and precision. Source: Manny Sison
"Paper - in as much as it is versatile, it's also very fragile. If you cut a piece you're not meant to, you have to start all over again. There's no undo button.
"Paper and graphic design cross parallels though. When I did graphic design, I used Adobe Illustrator. I would put shapes on top of each other to make a composition. With paper art, it's the same but it's in the physical world. There's a lot more warmth when you're using physical mediums I think."
The warmth of Manny's art comes from the themes he typically delves in.
"There's a lot more warmth when you're using physical mediums I think." Source: Manny Sison
"My themes come from introspection. It's a combination of things I feel - any negative or positive thought that I want to get out of my system. They come from my inner space."
Moving forward
While his art is a translation of his inner space, Manny seeks to push his advocacy with an external, physical locale.
"The end goal for me is to have my own gallery space so I can use it to help other artists to get exposure, to make it easier for them to get their work out there. I'd love to help others reach a new level with their practice."
"The Lighthouse Keeper is one of my favourites. I told my story through the fisherman. He has scars. There are waves and creatures, symbolising my own demons." Source: Manny Sison
Manny also seeks to reach a new level when it comes to connecting with his own roots.
"My uncle was Rey Contreras, a famous industrial sculptor. Unfortunately he passed away this year; but I'd love to connect with his daughters who are continuing his legacy.
"[My family is also from Bulacan], known for a decorative paper-cutting style called pabalat (skin, peel). Patterns are intricately hand-cut onto streamer-like pieces of paper which are attached to [pastillas or milk candies] for decoration."
The Bulacan pabalat Source: Tina Tan / blauearth.com
He now tries to incorporate elements of the pabalat aesthetic into his own paper art pieces.
"[It's] challenging to cut those intricate shapes...but I love how it creates an opportunity to tell stories within the patterns."
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"[It's] challenging to cut those intricate shapes...but I love how it creates an opportunity to tell stories within the patterns." Source: Manny Sison
