Daniel Tinagan, the owner of BKNWA, is a well-known Iloilo-based artist celebrated for his illustrations of Western Visayas mythological figures. His creative process begins before dawn with a jolt of caffeine—his “jitter juice”—to energize himself and, as he says, the divinities he frequently invokes in his art. Both the brand and the artist, active since 2016, hail from the Visayas region.
Despite his busy schedule, we were fortunate to interview Daniel about his creative process and his approach to marketing his brand beyond his comfort zone.
The Genesis of BKNWA
BKNWA, short for “bakunawa,” a Western Visayas mythical creature, emerged from my frustration with the art gallery system. I decided to create art for shirts, essentially building a ‘living gallery’ of people wearing my designs. The brand’s unexpected popularity stemmed from my desire to share my art with people beyond the confines of traditional galleries. The bakunawa myth, about a creature punished for disobeying Bathala by consuming all the moons, resonated deeply with my creative vision.
The BKNWA Creative Process
My creative process often starts with a large amount of caffeine. Seriously! But more importantly, it involves revisiting familiar ideas and crafting compelling narratives. These narratives can stem from emotions or be more overt stories subtly woven into the artwork itself.
Production and Medium
I work with various printing and drawing mediums. While I have a fondness for ink on paper, my approach has become more experimental over time, driven by the need to find the best medium to showcase each design.
Expanding Reach from Iloilo
While Ilonggos have been incredibly supportive, much of BKNWA’s audience comes from unexpected parts of the country. This challenges my initial comfort zone of local recognition, and I am now actively promoting my brand outside of Iloilo to expand my reach.
The Future of BKNWA
I am excited about the future and pushing myself beyond previous comfort zones. Expect continued shirt releases, but also the introduction of art prints and collaborations with brands that share BKNWA’s spirit.
Read also: How to Build a Successful DJ Brand from Scratch?
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