As the Philippines’ largest and most populated city, Quezon City has undeniably become a major epicenter of art and culture. The artists and galleries born out of the city have shaped its creative diversity, and now, the Quezon City Biennial (QCB) aims to honor that legacy by becoming the city’s latest artist-run, city-wide art festival.
From August 10 to October 10, the QCB transforms Quezon City into a landscape filled with art exhibitions and pop-up events, celebrating Filipino artistry and the spirit of the city as a uniting force for people, art, and ideas. Inspired by the major bus route along EDSA, the QCB’s theme for its launch is “Ilalim/Ibabaw”: whether passing “above” or “below,” taking the route symbolizes the passage of people, ideas, and culture navigating Quezon City’s diverse creative and cultural spaces.
30 featured artists from across multiple mediums are taking part in this festival, including experimental filmmaker Roxlee, along with CCP 13 Artists awardees Zeus Bascon and Allan Balisi, among others. Over 20 venues, partners, and collaborators are also contributing their spaces, time, and expertise to the festival, such as NO Gallery, Minus Plus/Garapata Store, Jun Sabayton, AG Sano, and more.
The festival’s main events include a series of pop-up art events that will take place across Quezon City. Its upcoming pop-up will take place all-day on August 23 across multiple venues in the district of Project 8: art gallery Sampaguita Projects, art spaces Green Gate 17 and The O Home, and Bahay Toro Skate Park. The QBC will also host pop-ups in Maginhawa, Cubao Expo, and Katipunan on September 6, 20, and October 5, respectively.
The festival is also providing private PUV jeepney tours of the participating sites throughout the two-month course of the biennial. These jeepney drives will also serve as an alternative space for artist talks, guided meditations, live performances, jeepjitsu self-defense lessons (yes, you read that right), and more. In addition, informal artist events and spontaneous conversations will take place intermittently until October 10, with details to be shared via the QCB’s social media pages.
More information on the QCB’s scheduled programming can be found here.
