Walk down the streets of Manila, Cebu, or even small towns across the Philippines, and you might spot them – tall, bug-like figures with big eyes and long legs, painted on walls, fences, and even shop fronts. These are Garapata – the signature characters of Filipino artist Dex Fernandez, who’s turning street corners into galleries and making art feel like it belongs to everyone.
PART 1: WHO IS DEX FERNANDEZ?
Short Essay: The Artist Behind the Bugs
Dex Fernandez was born in Manila in 1984, growing up surrounded by the city’s chaotic, colorful energy. As a kid, he’d draw on any surface he could find – notebooks, walls, even his own hands. This love for making art part of daily life would shape his entire career.
Unlike many artists who start in galleries, Dex began as a street artist. He’d sneak out at night to paint murals in quiet alleys, using simple tools and bright colors to make people smile. For him, art wasn’t something you locked in a frame – it was something you lived with.
As he grew as an artist, Dex kept this philosophy. He moved between street art, gallery shows, and interactive projects, but his goal never changed: to make art that sticks to people like glue. Today, he’s one of the Philippines’ most beloved contemporary artists – not just because of his work, but because he makes everyone feel like they’re part of his creative world.
PART 2: WHAT IS GARAPATA?
Significance of the Character
The word garapata means "tick" in Tagalog – a small insect that attaches itself to its host. At first glance, naming a friendly art character after a bug might seem strange. But for Dex, it’s perfect:
"Ticks stick to you – they don’t let go. That’s how I want art to be: something that stays with you, even after you walk away from it."
Garapata figures are tall and thin, with round heads, big eyes, and legs that stretch like noodles. They’re painted in bold colors – yellows, reds, blues – and pop up in the most unexpected places: on the side of a jeepney, a school wall, or a market stall. Each one is a little different, but all share that same warm, curious look – like they’re asking "What’s happening here?"
PART 3: THE STORY OF GARAPATA
How the Character Came to Life
One rainy afternoon in 2011, Dex was sitting in his small studio, feeling stuck on a new project. He’d been thinking about how art connects people – how a single mural can make strangers stop and talk to each other. As he doodled on a napkin, a small bug crawled across his desk. Instead of swatting it away, he watched it move – slow, steady, and determined.
"That bug just kept going, even though the desk was ‘foreign territory’ to it," Dex later said in an interview. "I thought – that’s what art should do: stick to you, no matter where you are."
He named the character Garapata, and painted the first one on a wall near his studio. Within days, people were taking photos of it, drawing their own versions, and even adding small messages next to it – like "Keep going!" or "This made my day!"
From there, Garapata spread like wildfire. Dex painted them in cities across the Philippines, then took them to Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Each time, locals added their own touches – in Cebu, someone painted a Garapata holding a lechon; in Tokyo, one wore a kimono.
PART 4: WHY GARAPATA MATTERS
The Significance of This Art
Garapata isn’t just a pretty character – it’s a symbol of connection in a world that often feels divided:
- For communities: Garapata murals turn blank walls into meeting points. In Manila’s Pandacan district, a Garapata wall became a place where neighbors leave notes for each other – lost dog posters, job leads, or just kind messages.
- For young artists: Dex uses affordable paint and simple tools, proving you don’t need fancy equipment to make great art. Many SHS students now paint their own small Garapata figures on classroom walls.
- For culture: Garapata is uniquely Filipino – it speaks our language, uses our colors, and lives in our spaces. It shows that art doesn’t have to come from other countries to be meaningful.
OUTRO
Next time you see a Garapata figure on a wall near you, stop and look closely. It might be just a painted bug – but it’s also a reminder that art is everywhere, waiting to stick to your heart.
Want to see more of Dex’s work? Follow him on Instagram @dexfernandez – and if you spot a Garapata near you, tag us with #GarapataArtPH!
BLOG DETAILS
- Categories: Filipino Art, Street Art, Contemporary Artists
- Featured Image: A photo of a yellow Garapata figure painted on a Manila street wall
- Comments Open: Share where you’ve seen Garapata!
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