Ayni Nuyda: Brushstrokes of her world

Ayni Nuyda: Brushstrokes of her world | Daily Tribune

Ayni Nuyda’s life is definitely filled with a lot of color.

Art was a constant in her childhood, though she never saw it as a profession unlike her late father Justin Nuyda.

“I used to dance. That was my passion. I used to be a ballet dancer. But obviously, life took a turn. I studied university and had a job,” Ayni told DAILY TRIBUNE’s Pairfect show.

Ayni has a double degree in organizational communication and applied corporate management from De La Salle University. Her search for knowledge led her to take several study abroad programs, one of which is in Vancouver, Canada where she discovered the immersive art of Battle of the Brush.

This unique live painting competition, which originated in 2008 and was inspired by Kevan Seng’s connection with Capulet Art and his mentorship under the legendary Canadian artist Raymond Chow, became part of Search Mindscape Foundation’s first-of-its-kind, multi-sensorial art event called Immersive Art.

Launched in 2019, the SearchMindscape Foundation has always dedicated its efforts towards creating spaces and opportunities that inspire interaction, collaboration, and engagement within the Philippine art space.

“After I had some studies in Sotheby’s Institute of Art, I wanted to kind of create a platform that I can call my own, because I felt that my father has been helping artists and also extending his arm and his leg and inspiring others,” Ayni said.

The group is an ode to the late great artist, hence the name MindScape.

“He was always in search for his mindscapes, which are landscapes of his mind, because he’s always been traveling and whatnot,” she said of her artist dad.

Initially, the foundation was established to fund art residencies outside the Philippines as Ayni’s father took a fair share of his time traveling to Europe. When he came back to the Philippines, somehow his mind was different, Ayni recalled.

Anchored on the theme, “Of Echoes and Currents,” Immersive Art brought together live painting, music, performance art, underwater photography, large-scale digital art projections as well as interactive art installations for a day — all under one expansive roof.

On 26 October, Green Sun Hotel in Makati transformed into an underwater universe brought to life by brush strokes, musical scores, movement, shadows, light and palpable creative camaraderie.

Artists who participated in the Battle of the Brush were Lydia Velasco and Anina Rubio, Orley Ypon and Mark Belicario, Charlie Co and Roedil Geraldo, AG Saño and Buwi Meneses, Egg Fiasco and Distort Monsters, William Higginson and Olga Rybalko (Battle of the Brush Champions).

“It somehow simulated a snippet of what it felt like to grow up with an artist who paints every day, and not everyone has the privilege or the luxury to have that, and it definitely shaped how I perceived the world, and I want to give the audience a snippet of that, but a little bit more curated,” Ayni said.

Digital artists whose works were showcased included Bimpoman, Mike Bartick, Kristone Capistran, Tey Clamor, James Clar, Jermaine Peck & Susan Larrson (produced by Lih Ocampo), Jet Leyco, Bea Mariano, Manny Montalibano, Chino Neri, John Torres, Rebie Ramoso, Madge Reyes, Boogs Rosales, Rhadem Musawah, Red Sales and Bimpoman.

Aural scoring and live music accompanied the various digital art projections surrounding the venue. Musical artists featured were Absar Aksa, Aries, Barbie Almabis, Pete Canzon Group, Aman dela Cruz, Ila, Joff Cruz, Jezi, Jermaine Peck, Pikoy, Cy Tamura and Sampaguita.

In her work with the foundation and as a curator, Ayni has always been predisposed to exploring the less traveled paths of fine art. She said, “Photography has a limited platform in the gallery space. There are only a handful of galleries that place photography as fine art.”

Photographers whose underwater shots on exhibit were Robert Yin, Simon Te, Jan Mayo, Gage Veridiano, Mike Bartick, Andie Remulla, Boogs Rosales, Adrian Dan, Romina Diaz, Bianca Natola, Bimpoman and Colin Dancel.

“Proud is an understatement. I never thought that we’d be able to pull off something like this. And to see that scale like, to see it executed,” Ayni said.

All of the art sale proceeds that the foundation received will be allocated for the relief efforts of the recent typhoons in Bicol.

Search MindScape Foundation is hopeful to raise more funds for the Filipino participants of the Florence Biennale happening next year.

“More public art spaces is something that we want to do. Not a lot of people realize that art is everywhere. It’s just, you know, finding the right time, the right space to experience it, and at the same time, being able to contextualize,” she said.

Is art now vibrant than of yesterday? Ayni has this to say: “It’s always been ever so changing. I think all of the things that we experience in the art market, the art industry, are nothing but a reflection of the times. I find that very wonderful. There’s a lot of opportunities. There’s just a lot more that can be done and hopefully we take it one step at a time in our own way.”