Teks, tiny collectible playable cards, used to be a big part of Pinoy childhood.
For Bijan Gorospe, an illustrator, graphic designer and bassist from Las Piñas, it was no different. “Kinokolekta ko ’yung teks, nilalaro, pinupusta, dinadangkal, dino-drawingan, kinakalat, etc.”
And, like many kids before him, he didn’t hold on to his teks, leaving them behind in his childhood.
Many years later, as a grownup, he’d start collecting the cards again, tracking them down and joining online groups that buy and sell toys from the ’80s and ’90s.
In 2015, he took his rekindled love for teks to another level. “Napasabit ako sa isang zine event. May mga nagbebenta ng mga iba’t ibang klase na printed works. Naisip ko no’n, parang wala na akong nakikita na pelikula teks kaya napagtripan kong gumawa.”
Instead of movies, though, he focused on music. “Parang throwback thing lang. Usually kasi ang isang buong pelikula teks ay naka buod ang istorya at hinati at pinagkasya sa 64 na pirasong teks.”
Teks inspired by the Eraserheads and their song “Huwag Kang Matakot” were his first foray into the art form. They continue to be among his favorite teks creations.
“’Yung Fuchsiang Ina memorable rin. Pati rin ’yung mga parody na nakarating d’un sa mga taong ni-reference n’ung gawa ko. Natuwa naman sila.”
Gorospe, son of painter Paco Gorospe, had always been artistic. “My dad was a visual artist and did paintings for a living so I was exposed to art and creativity early.”
He finds inspiration in his fellow creatives. “Kapag nakikita ko ’yung mga gawa ng mga hinahangaan kong artists, nakakagana rin gumawa e. Nafi-feed ako d’un sa galing at sipag nila.”
Nostalgia factor
There are many things Gorospe loves about teks. “Bukod sa collectibility at nostalgia factor … ’Yung cultural value niya. Naks! Haha! Kasi lost art na s’ya e. Gaya n’ung mga lumang billboards ng mga pelikula na painted. Kung meron mang gumagawa pa, baka iilan na lang. Ni hindi rin natin halos kilala ’yung mga artists na gumagawa ng teks noon dahil bootleg lang.”
What started as a little throwback project has continued. Gorospe shares his new teks creations on the Instagram account Project Teks (@project.teks). Gorospe calls himself a teks revivalist.
“Hindi naman s’ya nalalayo sa playing at trading cards na mayroon ngayon. Eto ’yung equivalent ng Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, MTG, etc. cards noong araw. Gaya nila, malaking parte rin ng pop culture natin ang teks. Gusto ko lang ma-inspire ’yung mga tao na gumawa rin o tumangkilik ng teks para magkaroon uli ng atensyon at eksena. Maging laruan, maging collectible, mag-thrive at magkaroon ng sariling community.”
His favorite thing people have said about his work? “‘Sir, paano umorder?’ Haha! Joke lang. Pero na-appreciate ko ’yung mga nagtatanong n’un kasi nakikita ko na merong may interes sa teks. Madami rin nagsasabi na nakakatawa at nakakatuwa kasi naalala nila ’yung kabataan nila sabay magre-reminisce kung gaano kasimple ang buhay at mga problema noong bata ka pa.”
Unfortunately, Gorospe’s teks aren’t for sale … yet. He’s still in the experimental process, he said, trying different ways of printing and different materials. “Gusto ko sana ma-replicate pati ’yung printing process na ginagamit noong araw.”
He said he’ll accept commissioned work in the future. “Isa sa mga goal ko ay makagawa ng buong teks series na tied-in sa isang pelikula. Para legit at hindi na siya bootleg. Full circle. Hehe.”
Gorospe and Project Teks have a lot in store for their followers. “Marami tayong mga nakapila na ideas. May mga mas mahabang sets. Mas magandang print rin para mai-share ko na sa mga gustong sumuporta.”
Follow @project.teks on Facebook and Instagram, @low.rest on Instagram for Gorospe’s other illustrations.