PHOTOGRAPHERand visual artist Glen Agallano unveiled his provocative one-man exhibit, P’Art, last June 6 at La Herencia Davao. Featuring bold nude male portraits, the exhibit blurs the line between art and controversy, prompting viewers to question: is this porn or art?
Four years in the making, P’Art is a rare addition to Davao’s art scene and a powerful call for HIV awareness amid rising cases in the Philippines. “For years, I’ve lost friends to HIV, some as young as 21,” Agallano said. “That’s when I decided to use my platform to raise awareness about this dreadful disease that’s affecting my community.”
Agallano then started to “recruit models” via casting calls to his “alter” friends on X (formerly Twitter), where “alter” refers to anonymous accounts used for freer expression. “X seems to be the most ideal platform for this advocacy, as many ‘alters’ are sexually active,” he noted.
His carefully crafted shots captured the male form in raw, vulnerable, yet empowering poses, challenging taboos around nudity, sexuality, and health. The result is bold and thought-provoking, inviting audiences to confront biases and rethink HIV stigma.
For P’Art, Agallano partnered with Jefferyi by LoveYourself in offering HIV education, on-site testing, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) access, emphasizing early intervention. Open exclusively to those 18 and older, P’Art runs until June 22, offering a limited window to experience this groundbreaking fusion of art and activism.
