At the Clark Museum, visitors are being invited to do more than observe art. Through a series of
interactive workshops led by Kapampangan artist and Tokyo‑based creative director Dennis Sun, participants are being encouraged to take part in the creative process itself.
The workshops are held alongside Sun’s retrospective exhibition, “Words, Colors & Beyond: My 40‑Year Creative Journey in the Land of the Rising Sun,” and are designed as hands‑on sessions rather than traditional lectures. Instead of focusing on finished works, the activities center on how ideas take shape—through discussion, experimentation, and shared reflection.
Moreover, the workshops cater to a broad audience, including students, couples, and art enthusiasts, and are conducted in parallel with the ongoing retrospective exhibit.
“The interactive format allows participants of different ages and backgrounds to engage with art beyond gallery viewing,” said CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera.
Sun, a nominee for the 2022 Presidential Heritage Award and a recipient of the 2011 Most
Outstanding Kapampangan Award, has spent four decades working in Japan across graphic design, publishing, and painting. His long professional experience informs the structure of the workshops, which draw heavily from Japanese design principles and cultural practices.
One of the first activities introduces participants to a Japanese‑style self‑introduction exercise. The exercise places participants within the cultural context that shaped Sun’s creative practice in Japan, emphasizing discipline, intention, and clarity of purpose.
The workshops also include a hands‑on discussion on color theory, using the Clark logo as a case study. Participants are asked to examine how color, form, and balance function in branding and visual identity, and to apply design concepts in real time. The exercise allows students and enthusiasts alike to see how abstract principles translate into practical applications.
“The lecture turned out to be far more participative than expected,” said Lynnea Paula Zamora, a second‑year information design student at Ateneo de Manila University. “It was insightful to see the speaker’s versatility, and it sparked thoughts about pursuing an art career abroad.”
For younger participants, the sessions offer a different way of thinking about art—one that does not rely on fixed outcomes or predetermined goals. Sun’s emphasis on process rather than product resonated with students who are still exploring their creative direction.
“The fact that he paints without a goal in mind really inspired me,” said Josefa Matilda Zamora, a Grade 11 student at Angeles City Science High School. “It shows that art is about enjoying the process and creating with passion.”
The series will conclude with two remaining sessions: “Life in Japan Talk” on February 28, followed by “ Art Talk and Workshop — Japanese Etegami” on March 7. These final activities continue the workshop’s focus on cultural exchange, combining personal experience with artistic practice. (PR-CDC)