Embark on a journey into the mind of Jasper Castro, a Filipino contemporary artist who has bravely utilized her diagnosis of bipolar disorder as a transformative force in her artwork. Beginning her turbulent relationship with mental health as early as age 4, Castro’s path to her artistic awakening was laden with challenges.

“The Artist is Alive,” her latest art exhibit, is a testament to her strength and resilience. Far from reducing her creative spirit, her bipolar disorder has become an unpredictable muse. The exhibit is a multi-sensorial exploration of the bipolar experience, vibrating with the vivid creativity and insatiable curiosity that punctuate Castro’s own life.

Please note, some artworks may contain moderate swear words and sexual content, reflecting the complex and sometimes tumultuous ideas from which they were born. Yet, through her art, Castro affirms her femininity and strength, neither of which are diminished by her scars or illness.

Her artistic journey transcends her personal narrative to spotlight intersectional issues such as socio-economic class, employment opportunities, discrimination, and public healthcare, particularly within the mental health sector in a third-world country setting like the Philippines.

Join Jasper Castro as she boldly declares, “I am alive.”

“The Artist is Alive” will be exhibited from June 7 to 30 at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gallery in Manila. The opening reception on June 7th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., will be followed by a guided tour. Don’t miss the special mental health event on June 17th at 10 a.m. Follow @jasperhannahart on Instagram for the latest updates on the exhibition.

The NCCA Gallery is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Mondays to Sundays. For further details, call (632) 8527 2192 loc. 309, or email gallery@ncca.gov.ph.