This is what a museum for children should look like

Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Can you picture a museum on Philippine art for children?

That is the idea CANVAS, or the Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development, is trying to present with their proof-of-concept show, "Tumba Tumba Children's Museum of Philippine Art," currently mounted at the University of the Philippines Vargas Museum.

The show, which runs only until July 27, so you better hurry, seeks to highlight the concept of what a children's museum should be -- youthful, fun, interactive and filled with objects that will titillate the imagination of the young.

To this end, the organizers chose to exhibit some of the artists they have collaborated with in its 13 years of existence publishing children's books.

Artist Jojo Barja demonstrates sculpture-making with the use of epoxy. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

Renato "Jojo" Barja Jr., a painter and sculptor, mounted a part of the show with pairs of sculpture and painting of his subjects. The subjects, one would have guessed, of course, are children. But to make it more interactive, his show borders on installation, as the hundreds of toys spread around the sculpture and canvas allow the children who visited the show to play with them.

For the older children or adults, Barja printed some of his characters on paper in black and white and provided the visitors with crayons and pastels to color them with.

Barja said he draws his inspiration from all the children and young people he has met in his life, so you would see "ordinary" characters as if one is seeing neighbors in your village.

The show features some of the books published by CANVAS, like 'Ipapasyal Namin si Lolo.' Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

Another exhibit draws its inspiration from the book, "Ipapasyal Namin si Lolo," witten by Genaro Gojo Cruz and illustrated by Arvi Fetalvero. The book is about a family road trip to their hometown of San Rafael. The artist's rendition of the book is exhibited in the show together with an origami table where one is encouraged to try the art.

A feature of the exhibit is having interactive games and activities that children can participate in. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News

Kids love cats and vice versa, so it was fitting that one of the featured artist had cats, all sorts of them, as the subject of his paintings and sculture.

The show draws from the book "Ang Aklatang Pusa" written by Eugene Evasco and illustrated by Jared Yokte. While viewing his show set like a living room, the visitors can hear the constant meowing being played in the background surrounded by life-size sculptures of the felines.

"Interactivity and engagement leading to imagination are key ingredients of what we think an ideal children's museum should be," explaineed CANVAS executive director Gigo Alampay.

Alampay said his group has produced dozens of exhibitions related to the picture books they publish which they, in turn, give away to kids in poor and disadvantaged communities throughout the Philippines.

Other artists featured in the show are Elmer Borlongan, Pam Yan Santos, Daniel dela Cruz and Archie Oclos, among others.

Having collected works from different artists over the years, Alampay said a children's museum of Philippine art was a logical dream.

That concept may not be far of as there is already land earmarked for its construction in Ibaan, Batangas, a little more than an hour away from Manila.

"The Tumba Tumba exhibit is meant not only to give a glimpse of our vision, and for us to learn from it, but also to begin getting others interested in helping us move towards that goal," Alampay stressed.

Photos by Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News