Stand-alone Work
2018-2026
Born in CDO, Philippines and raised in SFV, Los Angeles, Jep Alaba (he/him) is a new media artist and graphic designer who works with web technologies and TouchDesigner to create digital interactive art. He is also a lead developer at the design and technology studio Use All Five, where he codes websites like ailey.org and h4ck1ng.google. His friends and collaborators include: Developh, HOME-ROOM, Backbeat LA, and Allied Forces Press.
Poetics of Propagation
2026
Design for Poetics of Propagation, a zine of reflections about working in the post-colonial archives of Goa and Jamaica. Written and edited by Kierra Duncan and Nicole-Ann Lobo.
Cold War Sound
2025
An artwork and compilation of music that explores the legacy of the Cold War and martial law in the Philippines and South Korea. Broadcasted on HOME‑ROOM's INTERCOM.
The Cold War shaped the postcolonial legacies of nations like the Philippines and South Korea through the rise of U.S. military bases and U.S. support for authoritarian regimes under the guise of anti-communism.
In 1972, Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines, directly inspiring Park Chung-hee to do the same just a few weeks later in South Korea. Under these circumstances, liberatory musical genres that Black Americans pioneered: disco, funk, rock, and jazz, inspired new subgenres of folk music in these nations. These influences especially spread in areas with U.S. military bases, which acted as entertainment hubs that facilitated the mingling of culture. At the same time, the Marcos Regime heavily sponsored national culture as a way to distract from its state violence, allowing the development of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila Sound, and OPM. In South Korea, Park's regime was busy harassing and arresting musicians like Shin Joong-hyun and Kim Jung-mi for "smoking marijuana" and refusing to make state sponsored music. Shin, who worked closely with Kim, is credited for popularizing rock in South Korea.
This mix compiles some of the “cold war folk” music from this period and puts their politicized historical context into conversation with each other.
Backbeat LA
2019-2024
Art director for Backbeat LA, a Los Angeles event curation project frequently hosting experimental, electronic, jazz, and hip hop events at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown.
h4ck1ng.google
2022
Part of the team for the H4CK1NG G00GL3 website, which hosts a set of "capture the flag" (CTF) challenges based on the documentary series of the same name. Developed with Use All Five and Google Creative Lab team.
Technical and functional contributions to the interactive animations on the Yanai Initiative’s website. The Yanai Initiative is a partnership between UCLA and Waseda University. Website designed and developed by Use All Five.
(818) JA-NET
2020
Cassette tape artwork illustrated and designed for footwork/juke tape (818) JA-NET. Illustrated with ©JOYCE.
Allied Forces Annual Issue No. 4
2020
Procedurally generated artwork contributed to annual art and design publication Allied Forces Annual Issue No. 4.
Talmbout
2019
Interactive audio website and cassette tape artwork created for beat tape Talmbout by TV Blonde.
Junior
2018
Cassette tape artwork illustrated and designed for beat tape Junior by Pax.
Extended Movement Mod
2012-2019
Creator of Garry's Mod game Extended Movement Mod, formerly known as Art of Parkour, a communal and competitive online game where you can parkour in a flying-like manner and chase targets, play tag, or have gunfights.
