Garapata Store by Dex Fernandez: A Creative Infestation in Cubao Expo
Garapata Store, located in Cubao Expo in Quezon City, is not your typical art space or merchandise shop. It is the brick-and-mortar extension of artist Dex Fernandez’s long-running Garapata project, a visual universe born from childhood memory and expanded through years of street art, fine art exhibitions, and collaborations across mediums.
Fernandez, an interdisciplinary artist based in Quezon City, has built a reputation for his vivid, often chaotic compositions. His work blends religious symbols, pop culture references, children’s drawings, tattoo motifs, and fragments of adult magazines into layered visual narratives. These are not just collages, but portals into imagined worlds. His artistic style challenges the usual boundaries between high and low culture, frequently merging found objects with fantastical additions to question the very idea of memory and authorship.
Garapata began as a street art character, inspired by a real infestation of ticks in Fernandez’s childhood home. What started as a personal story about a family dog and an uncontrollable outbreak of parasites evolved into a broader artistic metaphor. The Garapata became a symbol of persistence, influence, and viral spread—applied to art, culture, and social commentary. Fernandez began placing his tick character across urban spaces, effectively recreating the infestation through public art.
In February 2025, Dex Fernandez opened Garapata Store in Cubao Expo, right next to the Habanero kitchen. The store is open from Tuesday to Sunday, between 3:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Inside, visitors can find Garapata-themed merchandise such as zines, stickers, and the well-known Garapata tote bag. The space merges retail with artistic expression, functioning as a small-scale installation where Fernandez’s playful and chaotic aesthetic is immediately present in its design and atmosphere.
The second floor of the store serves as a flexible creative venue. It has hosted events like the Garapata Tarot Pop-Up, and can accommodate art screenings, exhibits, workshops, or collaborative gatherings. This upstairs area is designed to support special projects and offers a platform for experimental or community-driven events.
For anyone curious about contemporary Filipino art or seeking a creative space that invites both reflection and participation, Garapata Store provides a distinctive experience. It is a living project that continues to grow, much like the imagery that inspired it.
