Binmaley artist makes waves with her ‘art tinik’
BINMALEY— After savoring a broiled whole Dagupan bangus, don’t throw away its fish bone. It’s valuable to a 24-year old
artist from Binmaley, the Fish Bowl of Pangasinan.
Jessica Lopez from Barangay Gayaman this town told The PUNCH in an interview that she’s using fish bones as medium because aside from its uniqueness, it also signifies life.
“The more we become empty, the more we become sharp,” she said about the representation of fish bones in one’s life.
Lopez has been making waves in the art circle for her unique and rare medium.
She creates abstract artwork which she calls “art tinik”.
Jessica Lopez with her finished art tinik. (Contributed)
“I didn’t know that a simple fish bone would create an impact,” she said since it’s an insignificant remains from a meal of fish. A leftover no more because it is an art,” she added.
She gathers fish bones, mostly of Dagupan bangus (milkfish), with the help of her father, Jose Evangelista who gets the stock from bangus deboners in Dagupan City.
“In times (when) we are left with nothing like fish bones and we become empty, it will turn out (what’s) precious in us. We are wonderfully created by our own struggles,” was how she described the use of her medium.
“Ang buhay ay parang tinik, uubusin ka ng pagsubok at sa pagkaubos na ito, mas nagiging matalas tayo. Hindi lahat tinitignan nating walang laman, dahil minsan ang walang laman ay siya pa ang mas malaman”.
Lopez is a college drop out and spends a lot of her time with her art. She chose the name Lady Fishbone for her artwork that represents her being a lady and fishbone for the materials she uses.
She said she got the idea of using fish bones after she was invited as facilitator in an art workshop in Ifugao in 2014.
In their meal, a tilapia was served but she did not get one and a teacher noticed it.
She said the teacher said that in the fish, there is a fish-shaped figure in its fish bone.
“So I was just like amazed if there was really fish-shaped figure in its bones. Then I found out that there is! Somewhere in the part of the head. With a curious imagination I started to wonder if I could turn fishbones into art,” she narrated.
Since then, every time she has fish as their meal, she would collect the fish bones. Initially, she had a hard time preserving them. When she successfully did it, she started her artwork.
She posted her art pieces in Facebook and has joined exhibits where she was able to sell some of her work.
Lopez said she did not expect the attention given her by the media and the praises from netizens about her work.
Rocky Fabilane commented in Lopez’s Facebook post, saying, “Sabi ko na eh. Simple lang pero petmaluuuuu.” Grace Yap wrote, “See, i told u sisikat ka db, congrats sis!”
Salvador Cabrera remarked, “Matinik talaga”.
“Never thought it would come this far. Thanks to the bones, and of course thanks to God,” Lopez gushed. (Eva Visperas)
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