Kenny Tai
She/Her@kentai.jpg
Location: Manila, Philippines
Occupation: Artist
Media: Digital
Dream Projects: 1. designer toys 2. exhibition / art show 3. artist collaboration 4. brand collaboration 5. art book or comics 6. animated series
Kenny Tai is based in the City of Manila, Philippines. As an illustrator and a passionate advocate for her city's heritage, she crafted the Manila Girls to narrate the tale of her beloved city through the lens of everyday life, contemporary events, and its rich history.
“Casa Tribunal de Naturales”
Digital Art
About two centuries ago, before locals resolved disputes via TV or online shows, Casa Tribunal de Naturales stood between two high-rises on Asuncion Street. This courthouse served natives and detained the accused under a local gobernadorcillo, akin to a modern town mayor.
The first floor housed detention cells, a hallway, a patio, a stockroom, and restrooms. The secondfloor featured a courtroom, the gobernadorchillo’s office, an archive room, and an arms depot. The artist re-imagines this old house as a bike shop, with the first floor for shops and repairs, and the second floor as a café. Now, like many heritage buildings in Manila, it remains abandoned and decaying, at risk of demolition for yet another soulless structure. This calls for heritage preservation and a pedestrian-friendly, bike-just future in the city.
“Panciteria de Macanista y Buen Gusto”
Digital Art
The establishment roughly translates as “Tasty Macanese Noodle House.”
According to historical archives, the three-story commercial accessoria is owned by Don Severino R. Alberto in 1880. The floorplan showcases the commercial divisions in its design by the Chinese-Filipino community. The former establishment was also mentioned in the 25th chapter of “El Filibusterismo,” the second novel of Jose Rizal.
The re-imagined illustration above is a study of the first and second floors of what could have been a possible adaptive reuse of the building while retaining the panciteria brand and giving reverse of its past.
“SAVE MANILA’S HERITAGE”
Digital Art
In Manila, the relentless march of corporate development and insufficient government policies are leading to the tragic destruction of the city’s heritage sites. Monuments, old houses, and historic churches – each a testament to Manila’s rich and diverse history – are falling prey to the pressures of urbanization.
Greedy developers, driven by profit, prioritize modern high-rises and commercial complexes over the preservation of these cultural treasures. Weak and poorly enforced heritage protection laws fail to offer the cessary safeguards to maintain these irreplaceable landmarks.
This cultural erasure not only strips the city of its unique architectural landscape but also severs the connection to its past, depriving future generations of their historical identity. The Manila Girls steps forward to raise public awareness about the plight of Manila’s heritage sites. By highlighting the stories and significance of these endangered landmarks, they aim to ignite a sense of urgency and responsibility among citizens and policymakers alike.
“Manila Girls” uses art, storytelling, and community engagement to spotlight the ongoing threats to Manila’s heritage. The goal is to inspire collective action to protect and preserve these sites, advocating for stronger heritage conversation laws and more responsible development practices. Through efforts, hoping to ensure that Manila’s rich history is not lost to the demands of modernity but preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
Materials used: watercolors, colored pencils, acrylic, crayons, and digital media.”