Ani - Harvested Hopes by Venazir Martinez at 275 5th Street
Video by Kapwa Kollective - Jeremiah Ysip and Jerico de Guzman
ABOUT THE MURAL
The mural “Ani,” translating to Harvest in Tagalog, embodies the transformative journey of migration, the act of retracing our roots, and the profound concept of harvesting hopes.
This project is a collaboration between the Renaissance Entrepreneurial Center and SOMA Pilipinas, designed to celebrate Filipino migration stories and their substantial contributions to the economic and cultural fabric of the United States.
Five key elements define this mural:
Red Thread: This element symbolizes the interconnected narratives that span across the globe. The red thread represents our DNA, visually guiding us back to our ancestral roots and creating maps of collective memories, signifying the unity and continuity of our shared heritage.
Poso/Bomba: Depicted as a traditional water pump, the poso serves as a vital link to the community. It symbolizes the essential access to natural resources and the sustenance of life, highlighting the communal aspect of our cultural identity and the importance of environmental stewardship.
Immigrants and the Workforce: This segment honors Filipinos in the diaspora, acknowledging their significant role in the workforce and their contributions to society. It pays homage to the resilience and industrious spirit of immigrants, emphasizing the impact of the Renaissance Entrepreneurial Center in fostering community growth and entrepreneurial spirit.
Harvested Hopes: These represent the fruits of our labor, symbolizing the achievements and aspirations fulfilled through hard work and perseverance. It reflects the idea of reaping the benefits of our efforts and the collective prosperity of our community.
California Poppies and Yerba Buena: These native plants symbolize the blending and interweaving of our cultural landscapes. They pay tribute to the land we now call home, representing the harmonious integration of our heritage with the broader American tapestry.
“Ani” serves as a cultural marker, celebrating the rich and diverse tapestry of migration. It encapsulates the enduring spirit of our community, honoring the past, celebrating the present, and inspiring future generations. This mural is a testament to the resilience, hope, and unity of the Filipino community and its vital contributions to the ever-evolving narrative of the United States.
ABOUT VENAZIR MARTINEZ
Venazir Martinez is a Filipino visual anthropreneur, and a street muralist. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines Baguio. She was awarded Best Thesis through her art and advocacy entitled Hila-bana. This street art hunt challenged the public's visual perception through cultural emblems to revitalize Filipino ancestral heritage.
The initiative known as Project Hila-bana gained prominence in 2018 in Baguio City, Philippines. The project's name drew inspiration from the Filipino term "hilbanahan," signifying temporary stitching. The street art movement is unified by a red thread that serves as a visual guide for the public in search of our featured Filipino identities across the globe.
She is the visionary behind Sining Eskinita, a multi-sensory street art festival that transforms mundane alleyways into creative platforms—teaming up with The Search Mindscape Foundation, The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Davies Paints Philippines, and other private and non-profit organizations nationwide. She had reclaimed otherwise bland spaces and transformed walls with cultural themes that enliven the indigenous spirit.
She was invited for a week-long residency and solo exhibition of her work Hilabana: Espasyo Temporal at the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University last October 2023 to celebrate Filipino American History Month. Followed by another solo showcase at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco in January 2024.
In April 2024, she collaborated with the Renaissance Entrepreneurial Center and SOMA Pilipinas in San Francisco, California, to create one of the largest murals entitled “Ani” in the district as a cultural marker to commemorate the harvested hopes of the diasporic communities in the Bay Area.
Martinez's creations are deeply influenced by the stories of people she encountered during her creative journey. Her artworks portray realistic depictions of individuals from diverse cultures, rendered in a fragmented and animated style. This approach, Progressive Abstract Realism, captures the intricate layers of our identities and the factors that have molded our fundamental values as a nation.
Venazir's profound fascination with identity formation became her spiritual quest and life's purpose, compelling her to redefine the myriad meanings of "Filipino" by interweaving the red thread, one wall at a time.
ABOUT RENAISSANCE ENTREPENEURIAL CENTER
SOMA Pilipinas and Renaissance Entrepeneuiral Center collaborated to make this mural on the exterior of the Renaissance building located on 275 5th Street. Renaissance Entrepeneurial Center’s mission is to transform lives and communities through entrepreneurship by engaging motivated entrepreneurs who face discrimination due to race, gender, sexual orientation, economic class, or past incarceration, providing access to training, resources, and capital needed to build thriving businesses. Check out their work here.