THE UST Museum and UST Publishing House launched a BTS-inspired fundraising exhibit at the Museum on March 28.
The “Trivia 起: Constellation” exhibit displayed artwork inspired by the lyrics and the “Love Myself” campaign of K-pop boy group BTS.
UST Publishing House Director Asst. Prof. Ma. Ailil Alvarez, who co-organized the fundraising event, said the art exhibit encapsulated the message of loving oneself and that one’s weaknesses are, in fact, “what make us great.”
Among the artworks for the art exhibition and sale were UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) alumna Cha Salido’s visual interpretations of BTS song lyrics.
Salido used these works as an outlet to showcase the creativity she suppressed after being diagnosed with a major depressive disorder at the height of the pandemic in 2021.
CFAD Assoc. Prof. Anna Marie Bautista, who co-organized and conceptualized the fundraising event, said the paintings were a true testament to the “power of art as a means of self-healing and self-expression.”
A portion of the ticket and art sales proceeds was donated to the UST Volunteers for Unicef, an organization dedicated to promoting and upholding children’s rights.
“We partnered with UST Volunteers for Unicef because BTS’ own ‘Love Myself’ campaign was launched in partnership with Unicef. It seemed like the most fitting thing to do,” Alvarez told the Varsitarian.
Award-winning poets King Llanza, Adrian Crisostomo Ho, and Paul Alcoseba Castillo participated in the poetry reading during the exhibit’s opening ceremony on March 28.
UST Conservatory of Music alumni Faye Transfiguracion, Marcel Jiz de Ortega, and Lyon Ricardo Lopez performed BTS songs, such as “Boy with Luv,” “Euphoria,” “Life Goes On,” “Dynamite,” “DNA,” and “Permission to Dance,” in a mini-concert.
The art exhibit was opened to the public from March 28 to 31. Jenna Mariel Gonzales
