By
Ricky A. Clores
Space. This is the heart of what Espasyo Siningdikato is. Espasyo, as the place is commonly called provides simply that—a space, a niche, a corner, where anyone who has a knack for art expression is given, well, a Espasyo.
Is this revolutionary, or charity or both? Somehow, Espasyo is a statement (just observe the reactions of passersby along the Gate 1 of Lasalle-Dasmariñas), or a cry perhaps, or a shout, not of desperation, not of death but somehow of love, of hope, of inspiration towards providing a space for artistic expressions. Indeed, this takes premium considering the commercialized and highly materialistic lives we live.
In Espasyo, there is a demand for excellence, but the demand is not institutionally driven. The drive for excellence is somehow very personal, sometimes even selfish, yet at the same time generous. Here in Espasyo, you can meet a young artist driven out by school by sheer exhaustion, but anyhow would want to “make” it. If you have the ears to listen closely, you can feel the passion, the inspiration and the drive, not of someone defeated by the large institutions, but by the voice of one who dares to change the landscapes of our inner and outer world.
Quite often, if not always, in Espasyo, the artists “perform” for free. If generosity is rare among artists, certainly not in Espasyo. In Espasyo, you can surely meet artists who have been doing free, if not
pamasahe-lang performances for decades. Not that these artists eat grass. I suspect that the expression and yes appreciation of their arts feed them, energize them, and like water and air, sustain them.
Espasyo Siningdikato. If you keep on repeating the name, you will notice the creative, even subversive, almost wicked tone to it. Some not-so-ordinary wizard, or
mangkukulam or
babaylan, if you may, must be behind it. The name also calls reference to some bandits, or gangs, or fraternity. If your mother asks you where you have been, you will certainly have second thoughts of reciting the name for fear of not being understood.
Who are the people behind and in Espasyo? You can call them artists, would-be-artists, even
nakikisakay-lang-na artists. Or, you can go to the particulars: painters of all stripes and colors, musicians of various genre and suasions, mime actors, poets, writers, performance artists, dancers, sound artists, music lovers, DVD-DVD enthusiasts, movie critics, etc., etc.
If the list frightens you, you should be. Because apart from creativity and art being their staple food, you can’t simply box them. Their interests vary. Their causes range. Their gender identity is sometimes hard to track down.
If you have the idea that Espasyo must have the size of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, given the varying creatures visiting the place, come to Espasyo. As always, size is a poor measurement of force and impact. Somehow, to Espasyo, size is an understatement.
When you visit Espasyo, talk to the people, ask about their dreams, and inquire about their vision. If you want, you can even mount your own art exhibit. Then, you might come to the conclusion that Espasyo is actually the size of a dream.
