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Paul Robles, Artist – Winnipeg

(photo: Charles Venzon)

Born in the Philippines, artist Paul Robles holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Manitoba School of Art and has exhibited widely in Canada and internationally. He is known for his intricate cut paper works that combine the delicacy associated with traditional hand work while addressing psychological and emotional states ranging from animist familiars, spirits, trauma, and grief. He has participated in Plug In ICA’s Summer Institute, Papier Art Fair (Montreal), Art Paris, and Nuit Blanche (Winnipeg & Waterloo). He sits on the board of directors for Border Crossings Magazine and will be included in the University of Winnipeg’s Gallery 1C03 40th anniversary exhibition opening in September. He is currently one of thirteen Filipinx artists in the group exhibition NAMUMULAKLAK (To Bloom) on display at PLATFORM centre for photographic + digital arts until June 20.

  1. Ghosts and ectoplasm

Winnipeg is a ghost town. The Art of Ectoplasm, edited by Serena Keshavjee, explores the University of Manitoba’s collection of the photographs of T.G. and Lillian Hamilton’s séance research and the legacy of these psychic activities. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle participated in the Hamilton Family seances!

  1. NTS radio app

As a Gen X-er, I grew up with mixtapes (on cassettes), John Peel (in the UK), and Brave New Waves (on CBC via Montreal). NTS, an app of independent, global music playlists, is the modern version of my nostalgia.

  1. Asog

This 2023 film follows a non-binary Filipino teacher on a road trip to compete in a drag pageant. They encounter other Filipinos enduring the impact of climate change (2013’s super-typhoon Yolanda, in particular). The film features residents of forced displacement whose land was stolen by a greedy resort developer. It’s also a very funny film (like a tragic comedy). “Asog” is a pre-colonial term for “transgender identity,” but is often used to reference shamans or priestesses.

  1. Friday Heaters

This is a contemporary art media podcast on YouTube and Instagram founded by LA-based creator Ben Weyerhaeuser. I don’t know much about him, but I like his goofy art critiques, big sunglasses, and use of the fire emoji. According to AI, he makes art accessible to “the TikTok generation”. Bring on the Heat.

  1. Blogger

Early work on an old platform. Most of these pieces are either destroyed, collected, or missing. Blogging was my way of “journaling” back then, and it was ad free!

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