UGATLahi Artist Collective

UGATLahi Artist Collective is a visual artists' organization based in the Philippines. The group was started in the early 1990s. The group creates images of protest. Since 2001, they have created effigies of the Philippine president for each State of the Nation Address. The group is also active in performance and installation art.
Most UGATLahi artists are often nicknamed as 'artists of social conscience'.
Formation.
In 1992, UGATLahi Artist Collective was formed in response to the growing concerns of Filipino students regarding the role of culture and the visual arts in nation-building. Initially, UGATLahi was a multi-disciplinary arts collective, which later evolved into an organization focusing on the visual arts.
Principles and Practices.
UGATLahi believes that art and culture has a big role in giving voice to the marginalized social sectors. It supports cultural initiatives from these sectors, helping to develop their potential to recognize and realize their role in the country's future.
It urges the campaign for a nationalist culture through engaging in projects and collaborations with other art groups by helping to organize and support the struggles of workers and urban poor communities throughout the country's National Capital Region.
Most of the group's significant works were made during the Oust Erap campaign in the year 2000, where murals and papier-mâché effigies were created and displayed during rallies, peoples’ assemblies and in picket lines.
UGATLahi seeks to promote awareness of human rights. In 2010, after the hostage taking incident in Manila, the group called for swift justice for those responsible for the incident.
A year after the Maguindanao massacre, the group constructed an effigy of the prime suspects in the killing riding a backhoe.
Influences.
UGATLahi's influences include notable art collectives such as Bread and Puppet and Taring Padi, an Indonesian art collective which also dwelves in political art.
Student Involvement.
Though universities are not directly involved with UGATLahi, a lot of students from prestigious universities in the Philippines such as the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and Adamson University have closely collaborated with this group.
Collaborations.
UGATLahi links up with other artists initiative such as TutoK. UGATLahi regularly performs at NeoAngono's annual Public Art Festival.
Giving Back.
UGATLahi is also involved in some humanitarian activities with fellow artist groups such as: