THE Cebu Designer Education Foundation (CDEF) held their one of a series of Design Speak lectures titled “Fusion of Art and Design” last June 23 at the Chiye Mori Library on A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City.
Raymund Fernandez, a fine arts professor from the University of the Philippines and an artist, tackled art history from the oldest times to the post-modern era, citing painters who made an impact on the world of art.
In his talk “Theoryphobia,” Fernandez discussed art and theory of art and its integration to design.
He said art and design, being “information objects,” do not simply exist for their function but convey a message to viewers.
He encouraged artists and designers to innovate to keep up with the changing times.
“Collaboration is the call of the day,” he said, adding that artists should not be limited only to what they can do on the canvass.
Among those who attended the lecture were designers from top companies, independent artists, CDEF members and art students.
A senior industrial design student said the lecture made it clear that design and art could go together. Both fields, though different at some point, can connect. In one way or another, art could influence design and vice versa.”
Another art enthusiast from the University of San Carlos, Mikkel Yang, said, “Fernandez’s idea of adapting one’s style of art to fit the demand of the globe rather than just following abstract art is true and should be appreciated by aspiring artists out there.”/UP Cebu Masscom student Annie Fe G. Perez