Where Stories Take Root: Edrick Alcontado Enters the Fields with ARAL Artists Community

Visual artist Edrick Alcontado has officially become a member of the ARAL Artists Community, a growing collective of Filipino creatives united by the vision of “fostering the arts through shared inspiration.” His entry into the group was made possible through Ms. Gail Suarez of ARAL Artists Community who invited Alcontado after encountering his work during a recent exhibition. Her belief in his artistic voice and perspective played a key role in this milestone moment in his creative journey.

To mark his debut as part of the community, Alcontado is one of the participating artists in Echoes of the Fields: Heritage of Our Local Farm Life, a group exhibit running from May 25 to June 25, 2025, at Nuzen Art Gallery in Tagaytay. The exhibit honors the resilience of Filipino farmers and invites viewers to reflect on our often-overlooked connection to the land, memory, and cultural heritage.

Though not raised in an agricultural setting, Alcontado resonates deeply with the symbolic power of farmland. “The fields may not have been part of my physical upbringing,” he shares, “but they’ve always lived in my imagination. They represent the fertile ground where my creativity first took root.”

Animare

Mandragora

His featured pieces in the exhibit, Animare and Mandragora, reveal this inner world with striking depth. Animare pays tribute to childhood tales where animals were storytellers and teachers—narratives that shaped his early understanding of life and humanity. Mandragora, on the other hand, draws from mythology and folklore, asking what becomes of the unseen once it is pulled into the light. The piece is an exploration of identity, mystery, and the transformative power of being acknowledged.

Joining ARAL has given Alcontado more than a platform—it has provided him with a community that understands the power of art as both personal expression and collective memory. With the guidance of Ms. Gail Suarez and the support of fellow artists, he enters this new chapter with gratitude, curiosity, and a deepened sense of purpose.

Through Echoes of the Fields, Alcontado not only introduces his voice to a wider audience—he also affirms his place in a movement that honors both tradition and imagination, rooted in stories that continue to grow.