‘Amoy Lapis’: Artist’s 1st solo show is a love letter to her students
Embarking on a first solo exhibition is one of the most challenging milestones in a visual artist’s career. For Kathleen Sareena Dagum—an artist active since 2014 and the grand prize winner of the 2021 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE) Sculpture Category—a solo exhibition might seem like the natural next step.
However, Dagum chose a different path, dedicating much of her time to teaching as a volunteer educator before taking this significant leap.
Dagum is an educator, sculptor, and illustrator. Born in Sultan Kudarat, she moved to Manila to pursue a degree in Studio Arts at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman’s College of Fine Arts. She also holds a degree in Secondary Education, specializing in Mathematics (2011), from Mindanao State University, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts-Sculpture (2017) from UP Diliman.
Honing her creative voice
Since 2014, she has exhibited her works in group shows and alternative spaces, allowing her to hone her creative voice, which focuses on themes such as social realism, the environment, women, culture, social morality, and children’s rights.
“After 2017, I tried to juggle teaching art as a volunteer and my art practice. I had no clue how to navigate my artistic career, only being able to participate in two shows a year,” Dagum said.
“However, during that period—even with scarce exposure—I worked to discover my identity as an artist: my medium, concepts, and the essence and direction of my art. I was trying to figure out if I really needed to do art full-time. It’s a battle I still struggle with today. And when I won the grand award in MADE, I felt my work was validated. That’s when I decided to pursue art—even if it is complicated.”
Her sculptures reflect both introspection and observations of society, serving as expressions of essential social issues. Her first solo exhibit, “Amoy Lapis,” is no exception. The show is a love letter to young students in public schools, inspired by her childhood experiences and time as a volunteer art teacher. The title evokes the scent of freshly sharpened pencils, a sensory memory intimately tied to school life.
Dagum’s dedication to education is evident in her volunteer work at a foundation, located on the southern foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range. At the opening reception of her exhibit, she shared the challenges she faced in realizing the exhibition, such as working from her studio in Bulacan and selling works to finance the production of the show. “Amoy Lapis” took roughly two years to complete.
Optimistic perspective
Growing up in Sultan Kudarat, Dagum lived next to her school. This proximity deeply influenced her perception of education as both a privilege and a hope-filled endeavor.
“‘Amoy Lapis’ is an expression we use in our household. When my nephew comes home from school, he smells like pencils,” Dagum explained. For her, the scent symbolizes the dedication and optimism invested in education—luxuries not accessible to all children, particularly in rural areas.
A 2023 article by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies highlights that 16.7 million Filipinos live below the poverty line. For many families in impoverished communities, education remains an unattainable dream, with children often forced into work, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Despite this harsh reality, “Amoy Lapis” adopts an optimistic perspective. Dagum draws inspiration from her students and childhood memories, and crafts narratives that focus on the bubble in which students grow and thrive. Her works feature hand-carved wooden dolls dressed in school uniforms, accompanied by props such as kites, slingshots, slippers, and high chairs. These sculptures invite layered interpretations, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own experiences of school life.
Dagum emphasizes the innocence and potential of children in her work, referencing the concept of tabula rasa—the idea of a clean slate. While adults often romanticize school life as simple, Dagum reminds us that the reality for many children is far more nuanced and, at times, difficult.
A portion of the proceeds from “Amoy Lapis” will fund art supplies for students at John J. Russel Memorial High School and Kalayaan High School in Bulacan.
“My chosen beneficiaries are the students who attended my art class,” Dagum said, further extending her passion for education beyond the exhibition.
“Amoy Lapis” is on view at vMeme Contemporary Art Gallery, Alabang branch at Commercenter, Filinvest City.
