Artist highlights dirty elections through art

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A visual artist who has been portraying his perception of major events in the country since 2004 took to the streets again with his depiction of the forthcoming political situation leading to the 12 May elections.

On Sunday, 4 May, Nicholas "Nick" Aca took to the streets again in pursuit of his advocacy on politics as a visual artist.

Aca, in an interview, described to DAILY TRIBUNE that "performance art" involves space, body, and time. Hence, he portrays the political situation in the country a week before Filipinos cast their votes using these elements.

Aca started performing before the public eye at Gaston Park, near the San Nicholas Church, where Catholic faithful flocked for the Sunday mass. He bathed himself in mud and then walked the streets, carrying on his shoulders a ballot box and a big cooking pot, with a chain wrapped around his upper body.

Aca said people are aware of the "ulan-ulan" or distribution of money to households to buy their votes, and he wanted to show that this is a dirty political practice, even as he intends to awaken the public perception of "dirty elections" this May 12, 2025.

He said dirty politics is already considered a cancer in society, but he still needs to do something to awaken Filipinos' sensitivities.

"It hurts, as the practice is tolerated. If there is a buyer, there is a seller, and if there is a seller, there is a buyer," he said in the Visayan vernacular, referring to vote-buying in the Philippines during elections.

Aca titled his performance this time as "Boto Goto," saying that a vote bought is merely equivalent to goto or lugaw, a rice porridge made with beef tripe and a ginger-based broth.

Aca said what he does is very difficult. He lamented how some people sometimes accuse him of being paid for his street portrayals, but he said that he is honest in his portrayals, especially when it comes to vote-buying.

"As an artist, I know that not all people understand what I do, but this is my advocacy," he said.

Apart from politics, Aca said he also engages in environmental and peace issues.