LOOK WHO’S PAINTING THE TOWN
Street artist Jappy Agoncillo challenges 15 guys to illustrate passion
For Jappy Agoncillo, going back to where he started always reignites his passion.
Although known for his bold and vibrant graffiti for Wanderland, Ayala Museum and Satchmi, Agoncillo wasn’t always painting on walls.
His love affair with his craft started when he learned how to draw from his uncle, a comic book artist. He then moved onto sketching his favorite superheroes—Dragon Ball Z, Batman, even creations from his own imagination.
As a young adult, he set this passion aside because he thought he wanted to pursue a career in law. But a chance project offered to him by fellow college students saw him going back to what inspired him in the first place.
“My friends from my org saw that I doodled a lot in class. They asked me if I was interested in creating something,” he recalls. “It was a pretty straightforward project: The org’s mascot was a dinosaur, so I painted a Godzilla-inspired creature.”
This proved to be the turning point in his life, as it made him realize that he wanted to make a career in art. Since then, his work has appeared on walls. From Manila to California and New York, he’s been literally painting the town with his comic-inspired street art.
Back to basics
Whenever he’s commissioned to create murals and other artwork, Agoncillo prioritizes what the client wants, making sure he hits all the marks given in the brief.
“I study the brand and the idea they’re after, because the client comes first,” he says. “Admittedly, sometimes I find the timelines challenging, but I try to manage my time as much as I can.”
These days, going back to his first love keeps Agoncillo inspired and creative. “Whenever I feel like I’m stuck or like I’ve done too many things for other people, I go back to the basics, something that I love, which is comics,” he shares. “It keeps the fire burning and keeps me grounded, while also giving me fresh ideas on how to keep pushing my craft further.”
This never-ending desire to do more is something he hopes to teach the next generation of artists. In “Art Wars,” a workshop that is part of Axe’s Pro- ject You campaign designed to help young men enhance their skills in their chosen fields, he asked 15 up-and-coming street artists to create an art piece centered around the theme of passion.
In the end, Agoncillo chose Henrick Dulin, who, like him, was sidetracked on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a full-fledged artist. Employed in a government agency, Dulin hopes to open his own art business someday. He’s also set to collaborate with Agoncillo on a mural in the historic district of Escolta.
When asked for his advice to young, budding artists, Agoncillo echoes Axe’s mantra: “You’ve got something in you, so work on it.”
To learn more about the Project You masterclass series, visit the Axe Philippines Facebook page.