A Filipino artist is making waves in the Middle East through his sand art.
Nathan Alapide started to create sand art in 2014. Drones were not yet available during that time so he improvises to measure his artworks.
“Tantyahan na lang. All of these, guts feeling. And then, iniisip ko na lang paano ang magiging itsura niya sa itaas,” Nathan said.
Nathan is originally from Manila. His works of art have been featured in several media and news outfits, both in the Philippines and in Dubai. He works for the Jumeirah Beach Hotel creating artworks for the hotel guests. Aside from that, Nathan also teaches individuals how to tap into their inner creativity.
Image: GMAnetwork.com
According to him, he prefers making artworks with sand since it is a collaboration with nature. ‘Pag collaboration with nature, exposed ka sa elements, sa hangin, o kapag lumakas ang alon, mawawala,” the Pinoy sand artist added.
Though it is unavoidable for other people to step on his sand art, he is already used to it.
“I learned to accept all these things and to adapt to them, just letting go of the fear of it na mawawala o matatabunan o matatapakan. It’s more about accepting that everything is in constant change,” Nathan shared.
A distinguished Filipino
Back in 2018, Nathan was recognized by The Filipino Times as its 2018 Artist of the Year.
As the most prestigious Filipino award-giving body in the Middle East, The Filipino Times Awards recognized Filipino individuals who were able to significantly contribute in the international arena, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Image: The Filipino Times
On its website, The Filipino Times described Nathan as a multidisciplinary and self-taught artist known for his sand arts, as he creates large-scale murals on the shores of Dubai.
Aside from that, he was also among the 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf by the Ilustrado Magazine.
