The Sunken Garden in the University of the Philippines Diliman is a large natural depression found at the end of the Academic Oval. To many iskos and iskas, this is a place for relaxation after a long day of classes.
Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, students would be seen playing Ultimate or Football in this 5-hectare open space, or couples and groups of friends and family having picnics and simply relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Events like the UP Fair would also take place in the Sunken Garden.
As an isko who spent five and a half years as an undergraduate in UP Diliman, Poncho Veloso Rulloda has his share of memories in Sunken Garden. The emotions from these memories are one of the factors that inspired him to create this artwork, and he chose to render a sunset sky for this artwork because most of the time he was in the sunken garden it was late afternoon, making a stop before riding a jeepney going home.
Another inspiration for Poncho to make this artwork is the works of Makoto Shinkai. Many would know Shinkai as the director of “Your Name” and “Weathering With You”.
As Poncho read Shinkai’s artbook titled “a sky longing for memories” from page to page, he cannot help but feel a rush of different emotions: happiness, sadness, awe, etc. He has always wanted to make his viewers feel a connection to his artworks just like Makoto Shinkai.
Poncho Veloso Rulloda
This artwork of Sunken Garden, along with his other artworks of UP Diliman, is the start of a series of many drawings of UP Diliman. He plans to publish an artbook of these drawings of UP Diliman, and setting that goal in mind is what drives him to make these artworks.
With these series of drawings, and just like Makoto Shinkai, he hopes that he can continue to make artworks that connect to his viewers on an emotional level.
For more of his artworks, check out his Instagram Page, Facebook Page, and Twitter Page.
About the Artist
Poncho Veloso Rulloda is a freelance concept artist and a registered and licensed architect. He took up BS Architecture and graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman in the year 2017. His background as an architect has been a major influence on his specialization of environment/background art, combining what he learned about the spirit of places with his talent in art.
As a freelance concept artist, he works with clients abroad and locally. He has worked on conceptualizing backgrounds and assets for indie video games, movies, and artworks for personal reasons requested by his clients.
Other than making digital art, his hobbies include playing video games, watching anime and cartoons, taking long walks, and traveling.
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