The exhibition dubbed “Disc.cussion” brings together a diverse group of artists to explore alternative approaches to printmaking by using discarded compact discs as matrices for drypoint. Transforming a once-ubiquitous medium of digital storage into a site of tactile image-making, the artists reflect on material reuse, obsolescence, and the evolving relationship between digital and physical forms.
Working within the fixed, circular format of the CD, the artists navigate conceptual and technical constraints. The central void—once essential to the function of the disc—becomes a defining compositional challenge. As the artist Noëll El Farol explains, “the void at the center becomes an integral part of the composition… One cannot make a focal point due to its absence at the center.”
This condition often encourages radial compositions, where balance must be carefully negotiated against the object’s inherent sense of motion.
Beyond composition, the material qualities of the CD itself shape the works. Its polycarbonate surface differs significantly from traditional copper or zinc plates, affecting both the incised line and the way ink is held and transferred. “The process of incising physical marks on a CD creates a dialogue between the ephemeral data and the tactile permanence created by drypoint,” El Farol notes, adding that the resulting burrs “blur the microscopic series of circular lines that transform the CD into a digital relic.”
At the same time, “Disc.cussion” foregrounds sustainability and accessibility in contemporary print practice. By repurposing discarded media, the exhibition proposes an alternative, circular approach to artmaking. For the artist Poeleen Alvarez, “the use of the CD…is a conscious decision towards sustainable artmaking in the face of a milieu characterized by overconsumption and man-made environmental crises.”
Through these works, the CD is repositioned, not as obsolete technology, but as a material with continued cultural and artistic relevance. What once functioned as a carrier of digital information is reactivated as a matrix for image production, bridging the gap between data and imprint, ephemerality and permanence.
“Disc.cussion” features works by Alynnah Macla-Tadeo, Benjie Torrado Cabrera, Diana Aviado, Plet Bolipata, Don Kusuanco, Elmer Borlongan, Jojo Barja, Luigi Azura, Angelo Magno, Mars Bugaoan, Noëll El Farol, Pandy Aviado, Poeleen Alvarez, Soler Santos, Taj Hassan Asinas Tadeo, Anton Villaruel, and William Matawaran.—CONTRIBUTED
The exhibition runs from June 18 to July 18 at West Gallery on 48 West Avenue, Quezon City. For inquiries, contact: West Gallery at info@westgallery.ph or Marz Aglipay at info@marzren.com.
