PUBLISHING DATE: JUNE 2015
(Cover Story - Original Submission)
THE QUIRK OF QUARK
A scratched out, cryptic figure on an intricately familiar background arrests one’s attention upon entering director, writer, musician, and creative force Quark Henares’ new flat in BGC. The Yasmin Sison artwork, seemingly a couple hugging shrouded in violent white paint from Sison’s recognized collection, is also Quark’s favorite. The focal point framed on a gray-bricked wall and warmly lit by crude hanging bulbs lends the industrial-cum-folksy design by Heim Interiors a peculiarly welcoming, melancholic mood. In his imaginative fashion, Quark looks at the piece and fancies a short film theme fit for his space, a break-up scene in a place he describes is both romantic and somber. It’s an ambiance he comfortably cozies up to as he finds his selfdom in the structure he now calls home.
The living room wall houses everything Quark: a mix of toys, vinyls, blue rays, and CDs. It’s a smidgen of his wide collection housed in his family home in Dasmarinas Village. He admits his room is bigger than his entire condo. Despite the space demotion, Quark wouldn’t want it any other way. He intended to have the investment he acquired in 2009 rented out. But after living on his own in the States while taking his MBA in University of Southern California, he yearned for his personal space. “When I lived in the States I realized it was fun living alone. Especially if you live in the house of Dr. Vicky Belo. Because my favorite thing, if I have time, is to just sit outside and read. And it’s so hard because there’s always some meeting or some celebrity or some whatever coming in and you have to entertain them while they wait for mom. It’s very ‘hustley and bustley.’ Here it’s really quiet,” he adds. The unlikely homebody gets to enjoy just that, like when he stayed put and movie-binged over the entire holy week. On days when he finds himself outside, he leans on BGC’s diverse choices for whatever he fancies: writing at a Starbucks down the street, seeing friends in Mamou or Rocket Room, or holding meetings in Big Bad Wolf. Save for the boxes, bubble-wrap packed knacks, and the empty fridge, Quark fills the room with a lived-in vibe and talks about BGC like he’s been living here despite having to move in just a few weeks ago.
But the real allure of BGC to Quark aren’t just these commercial aspects. After all, the city’s beginnings have contributed to Quark’s creations. “One of the music videos I’m happiest about was shot completely here and it was Taken By Cars’ Shapeshifter. It was still that perfect mix of wasteland and structures. I remember spending three new years [here] and looking out on the horizon and seeing the shape shifting time of Fort Bonifacio. For me that was its best time. I’m really happy we were able to capture that,” he shares. He muses on shooting at other locations in the area, such as the lamp posts that pepper the parking lot near Wildflour Café + Bakery, the place where kids used to skate, even The Trees sculpture in Burgos Circle. An accidental advocate for the Filipino’s artistic talents, he found himself working as the Head for Production and Development for iflix, an entertainment company akin to Netflix. “I walk to work, which for me is an amazing thing… And I love my new job in the sense that I get to support a lot of these filmmakers who are really talented. It’s so great to hear out all these ideas. When you’re a fan of films, you think, ‘Oh the Philippine industry needs better directors or writers or whatever because ang baduy ng mainstream cinema,’ and then I realized when I joined [the industry] that ‘Oh my god, these are some of the smartest people I’ve ever met in my life.’” He says.
His attention may be poured at his job for now, but that doesn’t mean everything else is on the back burner. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Quark Henares film or heard from his band Us-2 Evil-0, but we’re urged to stay tuned. Directing a few more music videos, a script due to be shot before the year ends, and a new album with his band after a six-year hiatus are all underway. If anything, his daily encounter with the creative kind, whether at work, in his home, or within the city, is enough to drive him to play with his ingenuity. “The process of doing this [condo], everything from the handles of the drawers to the light bulbs to use; I’ve been paying more attention to production design because I had to pay more attention to this,” he relates. Having access to such inspirations, it’s not hard to think Quark can expand his creative vision and then some.
THE QUIRK OF QUARK
Photo by Tammy David
A scratched out, cryptic figure on an intricately familiar background arrests one’s attention upon entering director, writer, musician, and creative force Quark Henares’ new flat in BGC. The Yasmin Sison artwork, seemingly a couple hugging shrouded in violent white paint from Sison’s recognized collection, is also Quark’s favorite. The focal point framed on a gray-bricked wall and warmly lit by crude hanging bulbs lends the industrial-cum-folksy design by Heim Interiors a peculiarly welcoming, melancholic mood. In his imaginative fashion, Quark looks at the piece and fancies a short film theme fit for his space, a break-up scene in a place he describes is both romantic and somber. It’s an ambiance he comfortably cozies up to as he finds his selfdom in the structure he now calls home.
The living room wall houses everything Quark: a mix of toys, vinyls, blue rays, and CDs. It’s a smidgen of his wide collection housed in his family home in Dasmarinas Village. He admits his room is bigger than his entire condo. Despite the space demotion, Quark wouldn’t want it any other way. He intended to have the investment he acquired in 2009 rented out. But after living on his own in the States while taking his MBA in University of Southern California, he yearned for his personal space. “When I lived in the States I realized it was fun living alone. Especially if you live in the house of Dr. Vicky Belo. Because my favorite thing, if I have time, is to just sit outside and read. And it’s so hard because there’s always some meeting or some celebrity or some whatever coming in and you have to entertain them while they wait for mom. It’s very ‘hustley and bustley.’ Here it’s really quiet,” he adds. The unlikely homebody gets to enjoy just that, like when he stayed put and movie-binged over the entire holy week. On days when he finds himself outside, he leans on BGC’s diverse choices for whatever he fancies: writing at a Starbucks down the street, seeing friends in Mamou or Rocket Room, or holding meetings in Big Bad Wolf. Save for the boxes, bubble-wrap packed knacks, and the empty fridge, Quark fills the room with a lived-in vibe and talks about BGC like he’s been living here despite having to move in just a few weeks ago.
But the real allure of BGC to Quark aren’t just these commercial aspects. After all, the city’s beginnings have contributed to Quark’s creations. “One of the music videos I’m happiest about was shot completely here and it was Taken By Cars’ Shapeshifter. It was still that perfect mix of wasteland and structures. I remember spending three new years [here] and looking out on the horizon and seeing the shape shifting time of Fort Bonifacio. For me that was its best time. I’m really happy we were able to capture that,” he shares. He muses on shooting at other locations in the area, such as the lamp posts that pepper the parking lot near Wildflour Café + Bakery, the place where kids used to skate, even The Trees sculpture in Burgos Circle. An accidental advocate for the Filipino’s artistic talents, he found himself working as the Head for Production and Development for iflix, an entertainment company akin to Netflix. “I walk to work, which for me is an amazing thing… And I love my new job in the sense that I get to support a lot of these filmmakers who are really talented. It’s so great to hear out all these ideas. When you’re a fan of films, you think, ‘Oh the Philippine industry needs better directors or writers or whatever because ang baduy ng mainstream cinema,’ and then I realized when I joined [the industry] that ‘Oh my god, these are some of the smartest people I’ve ever met in my life.’” He says.
His attention may be poured at his job for now, but that doesn’t mean everything else is on the back burner. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Quark Henares film or heard from his band Us-2 Evil-0, but we’re urged to stay tuned. Directing a few more music videos, a script due to be shot before the year ends, and a new album with his band after a six-year hiatus are all underway. If anything, his daily encounter with the creative kind, whether at work, in his home, or within the city, is enough to drive him to play with his ingenuity. “The process of doing this [condo], everything from the handles of the drawers to the light bulbs to use; I’ve been paying more attention to production design because I had to pay more attention to this,” he relates. Having access to such inspirations, it’s not hard to think Quark can expand his creative vision and then some.
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