Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach with fellow beauty queens Daiana Menezes, Nicole Borromeo and Gabrielle Basiano; actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith; and drag queens Marina Summers, Lady Morgana, Turing and Corazon Filipinas headlined photographer Niccolò Cosme's latest exhibit, Tanggulan, in commemoration of World AIDS Day.
"After five years, I'm finally showcasing my works again through a gallery exhibition. Tanggulan is an eleven-piece series depicting various narratives of an HIV awareness advocate's journey," Cosme during artist's talk on World AIDS Day, 1 December.
Presented by Project Headshot Clinic, in partnership with AIDS Healthcare Foundation and The Red Whistle and part of its campaign series, Defend, the exhibit opened on 29 November and ran until 11 December at Kondwi on Albert Street in Poblacion, Makati City.
The photographs, which incorporated paint and blood from an HIV-positive donor, show a person's journey, from the subject's awakening as advocates, to encouraging others to join in championing HIV awareness, lobbying for accessible healthcare, tirelessly fighting to defend the rights of people living with HIV or PLHIV, and honoring the fallen. The subject advocates were styled with Filipino and Southeast Asian-inspired clothes and accessories and garbed with sarongs and salakots designed by Myke Oropesa.
Cosme was inspired by our forefathers who fought for our freedom.
"My great-great grandfathers were Katipuneros. Tanggulan is the name of the street where my mother was born in Kawit, Cavite and also means a 'fortress' during war," he revealed.
"Advocates are modern warriors," he added.
Cosme's Project Headshot Clinic was founded in 2007. In 2008, writer and friend Wanggo Gallaga revealed his HIV status to him. They teamed up and kickstarted their annual campaign for World AIDS Day and his journey towards becoming HIV/AIDS advocates. Nowadays, Project Headshot Clinic has been conducting photo shoots for various advocacies. The most anticipated shoot has always been their annual World AIDS Day shots.
Proceeds of Tanggulan will be given to AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
