Louie Talents, one of Cagayan de Oro’s top world-class contemporary artists, has brought back its Atten-Hut Art Project featuring 21,000 pieces of toy soldiers with an exhibit in the port city of Brest in France. The art exhibit at 170 Rue Jean Jaures-Brest started last June 12, coinciding with the Philippine Independence Day, and runs until June 30. It has been drawing a long line of avid visitors and art lovers.
Now based in France, Louie first installed the 21,000 pieces of toy soldiers painted in white on June 12, 2013 at Xavier University Lucas Hall in his hometown Cagayan de Oro City to raise public awareness on judiciary reform back then. It was then transfered to the Metropolitan Museum in accordance with the visit of Queen Sofia of Spain. He again reinstalled them on June 12, 2014 at Museo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro.
“I decided to re-install them here in Brest, France. It is my way of raising awareness in the fact that the enemy of war is war itself. The toy soldiers form the French word ‘’ PAIX’’, which means peace in English.”, Louie explained.
Louie’s father died on “June 12” when he was only 10 years old. According to him, one of the best memories he had with him was playing with toy soldiers. He further said “Ten years ago, I promised and gave my word that one day i will bring them in Europe.”
The exhibit which is a commemoration of his father’s death anniversary as well as the 125th Independence Day celebration of the Philippines, will remind ourselves of the people who gave their life of the Freedom we enjoy today.
The exhibit in Brest-France comes with the war in Ukraine. Despite his busy schedule, he decided to re-install the 21,000 toy soldiers as his way to raise awareness that the enemy of war is war itself. The toy soldiers form the french word ‘’PAIX’’ which means peace in English. Accordingly, the City of Brest holds much story of war and is an active naval base of France and it was also here that high ranking generals and officials had their meeting before the war in Ukraine. The installation is entitled “How can we talk about peace with guns in hand?”
Louie stressed “It’s crazy how people are concerned about the war in the beginning and now that it’s been a year and half already, it seems that world has gone silent about what is going on in Ukraine.“
“As I celebrate the death anniversary of my father and as we celebrate our Independence Day, may we consider in our thoughts through this installation…the people and families devastated in the War in Ukraine.”, Louie further said.
The seed of the idea about Atten-Hut Art Project started 13 years ago but I could only afford to fund 14,000 pieces of the toy soldiers back then…so I shared the idea to “Batin” (Kristine Ravanera) and “JBagz” (now Opol Mayor Jay Bago) in a coffee shop in Limketkai…and they did financially donate so i would reach to accumulate the 21,000 pcs of toy soldiers” Louie added.
He also remembered that it was in his UP Diliman days that the seed of the project came into fruition and sharing the idea to his classmates.
Browse over some photos of the exhibit below.
