Gawa Gang

Project Statement

Gawa Gang is a project that brings the essence of kapwa to the act of making. Kapwa is a Filipino virtue that roughly translates to “togetherness.” It can also be described as treating others as part of yourself. Kapwa is evident in handicraft communities around the Philippines—working together in shared joy during production runs, some of which I had the pleasure of being a part of.

While working with these communities, I learned the process of crafting a quasi-traditional eskoba, a Filipino bottlebrush. An eskoba is a utilitarian object for cleaning, but the communities that make it also use the eskoba for decorative purposes. In Gawa Gang, I highlight the global craft economy by centering the process of making an eskoba.

I used coconut fiber in the project, which is commonly found in tropical places such as the Philippines. Working with these fibers transports me back home to the loving communities that expertly manipulate coconut fibers with their hands. By inviting the viewer into an experience of making, I want to raise awareness about labor, materials, tools, and community-making practices in the craft world.

Using anthropomorphized tools and stop-motion animation, I use humor to guide the audience in creating a bottlebrush. This experience offers a moment for reflection and a glimpse into the realities of crafting for survival in the Global South. The eskoba becomes a souvenir to take home; a tangible reminder of the awareness and emotions they encountered during their experience with the Gawa Gang.

Artist Bio

Razel Mari is an artist, designer, and maker from the Philippines. He likes exploring and learning new processes in crafting and producing objects. He’s a dabbler in various materials and methods, such as ceramics, fibers, wood, and digital fabrication. Through his art, he aims to open up conversations around human realities by using fantasy and humor.

Prior to embarking on his self-driven studio practice, he served as a product designer at the Community Crafts Association of the Philippines, a fair-trade organization championing Filipino handicrafts. This exposed him to the compelling space of crafting handmade objects in collaboration with community. Currently, he is working on his master’s degree in Applied Craft and Design at Pacific Northwest College of Art as a Fulbright scholar.