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Artist and musician Wawi Navarroza is certainly keeping busy. Barely a month after launching her book Hunt & Gather Terraria at the Met Museum, she is now right smack in the center of Fotosemana, a weeklong micro festival of contemporary photography. Fotosemana, the first project under her initiative Thousandfold, features slide shows, book sales, artist talks, and exhibits. At the end of the day, however, it is an event that champions, first and foremost, photo books.
On Saturday afternoon, May 23, Fotosemana will hold a book signing event, featuring visiting Spanish photographer Nicolas Combarro, as well as authors of local photo books like Biyaheng Langit, Meryll Soriano, and Wawi Navarroza herself.
We caught up with Wawi, who told us about her book and how it became a visual exploration of the city.
Can you tell us how Hunt & Gather, Terraria came about?
I came back June 2013 and I had nothing. I was watching Rafael Nadal win his French open when my backpack with everything in it was stolen. It was…you know, even the small personal things were gone. I was on my way to meet a curator and I had nothing to show him.
So I came back and I was eating 3 pieces of okra when it hit me. I said, I want to create again. That’s when I started the project.
Okay, but wait are you okay now after getting robbed and losing everything?
Yes. It lightened me up a bit.
That’s good to hear. You made an open call for this project.
Yes, for the first two weeks, I did the digging myself and then I made the open call on Facebook. There were strange submissions — someone submitted a slipper. A lot gave photos, which became part of my pleasure. Some are disappointing — low res kasi, ha-ha.
There were 99 locations in Metro Manila — which corner yielded the most interesting samples?
It’s not so much that, but more like, getting a peek of a few of Manila’s places like Fabella Memorial Hospital, or from inside a jail.
Where did you start?
I started in the PNR slums in Taguig, near where I stay. And it’s interesting because now, that place is no longer there. There’s construction there now, so the samples, wala na siya.
Did the project make you see the city in a different light?
It’s nice because the project showed the symbiosis of human interaction with plants. In the city, nothing is natural, but the every day interaction of people with the plants, it shows how they’re able to relate to each other and adapt.
Is there a terrarium that you feel best represents the city?
I didn’t intend for the project to be a record of the city. There are locations na paulit-ulit. There are locations that are not represented, like Alabang.
Okay, but do you have favorite locations?
Stuff from the Planetarium and Pag-Asa, in Quezon City. It was just littered with all these beautiful red blooms.
Okay, so this is really a project for a show, and then the book came up?
Early on, I knew I was going to do a book. The open call was for samples but I got a lot of photographs. So I knew I was going to do a book.
When you were starting out, you were doing most of the foraging. Were there locations you went to and forgot to do a job because you know, it was so interesting and fun?
A lot. Most of them, I think. My friends and I would just hang out.
Was there a location that was very strict, you know, with bitch security?
They were more curious. I mean, it’s plants. Plants are very disarming and innocent. Like in Greenbelt, I was out foraging and one of their security guards approached to see what I was doing. Sabi ko, I just need it for a project. Or at a restaurant, when I picked a few leaves. I just tell them, ‘I need the leaves for a project,’ or something like that and they leave me alone.
Did you learn anything new?
Yes! One time, I was foraging in the PNR slums in Taguig. And there’s this big, scary-looking guy. And he came up to me and asked what I was doing. So I tell him, I need the soil for my project. And he replies, “Wag ka diyan. Kumuha ka na lang duon banda. Mas mataba ang lupa kasi yung kambing ko, duon… ha-ha
Grab a copy of Hunt & Gather, Terraria. Saturday, May 23, 4pm. Warehouse 509, VFP Building 2 Veterans Road, Taguig
Photos: Tammy David
