Revisiting the Roots

In partnership with the Philippine Association of Saskatchewan and in celebration of Filipino Heritage Month, join us for a conversation with artists Pepito Escanlar and Patrick B. Fernandez. Escanlar and Fernandez will be discussing the influence of memories of home as subjects of art-making and decoding maximalist Filipino tradition as a result of decades of Colonialism.

Bio: Patrick

Patrick B. Fernandez is an award-winning contemporary visual artist who lives and works in Regina, Saskatchewan. Born in the Philippines, he paints using symbolism and reimagined folklore imagery as a means of storytelling. His works are based on personal experiences that deal with displacement, coping, taking chances and using circumstances as turning points for growth.

Fernandez’s works have been shown in exhibitions in the Philippines, South East Asia, North America and Europe. As an active community leader, Fernandez had both founded and led several art collectives in the Philippines. He had organized various art festivals and community events in his province in Pangasinan. In 2017, He moved to Regina and continued his commitment to art and community engagement.

Bio: Pepito

Pepito Escanlar immigrated to Canada in 1975 after receiving his degree in Architecture from the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila.

For over forty years, he balanced his architectural career with his passion for painting, besides raising a family and serving the community, including as President of the Philippine Association of Saskatchewan and recently as Philippine Honorary Consul for Saskatchewan.

Conscious that he has lived in Canada longer than in the Philippines, his subjects shifted from Regina’s urban landscapes towards his cultural heritage and childhood memories of his country of birth.

In partnership with