The damsel is the dragon
FROM beneficent protectors to agents of chaos, from slithery serpents to winged wyverns, there’s a rich variation in the concept of dragons across civilizations. In the Middle East, for instance, the dragon/ serpent is symbolic of the principle of evil. Hence, the Egyptian god Apepi serves as “the great serpent of the world of darkness.” Meanwhile, the Chinese dragon, loong, represents yang, or the principle of heaven in the yin-yang of Chinese cosmology.
Loong also embodies the idea of activity and maleness, a commonality among dragons across cultures. Save for a few outliers, perhaps most famously novelist George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones, women play limited roles in stories about dragons. Legends, fairy tales and chivalric romances often have them performing as damsels in distress in the archetypical premise, waiting to be saved by a heroic, male dragon-slayer.
Visual artist Katrina Pallon attempts to rewrite that literary trope in her ongoing solo exhibition at Art Anton, titled She, the Dragon.
“Often ‘othered’ from the dragon, women have been portrayed as either the victim or keeper of the beast,” the artist writes in her show statement. “This exhibit presents an alternative to this Western-tainted and exclusionary take on the dragon’s symbolism, offering instead a holistic and harmonious portrait of women as masters of dragons in their own right.”
Pallon presents scenes inspired by folklore and everyday functions wherein women command these mythical creatures, each one rendered in moving detail and color.
In The Tale of the Flower Vendor, the subject strolls down the road with her blooming goods on a bike, as loong in all its impenetrable scales and sharp claws serves guardianship. In Duyog, Philippine mythology’s serpent-liked dragon named Bakunawa appears in a work of intricate sophistication—there’s the breezy and starry night sky in the background and flowers, feathers and textiles up front.
Complex details likewise come to life in Kiyohime, featuring the female character in Japanese folklore who turned into a serpent and killed the monk who rejected her love and affection.
Pallon draws power in her intentions and evokes it in her captivating artworks for the show. The artist proves that the damsel and the dragon can be one and the same.
Katrina Pallon’s She, the Dragon opened on July 23 and is on view until August 8 at Art Anton at S Maison in Pasay City. More information is available via inquiry.artanton@gmail.com.
AN extensive showcase of masters and up-andcoming artists will run this week, from July 29 to July 31, at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati.
MOCAF, billed as the first modern and contemporary art festival, presents a dynamic program of exhibitions, talks and discoveries for collectors and art enthusiasts. The event is presented by publishing house and multimedia platform Art+.
“We started MOCAF to showcase works from both modern masters and cutting-edge contemporary artists through well-curated special exhibitions,” said Jewel Chuaunsu, MOCAF head of operations. “We want to enliven interest in the arts in all sectors of society and help generate and educate new art audiences.”
Fundacion Sansó director Ricky Francisco will curate the solo artist presentations and group exhibitions. “Through MOCAF, we aim to strengthen the identity of Filipino modern and contemporary art,
and focus on the Philippines as a global artistic and cultural center that will be recognized throughout Southeast Asia,” he said.
The participating galleries include Ysobel Art Gallery, Village Art Gallery, DF Art Agency, Leon Gallery, Secret Fresh, and Qube Gallery, among others. There will be international galleries as well, including YOD Gallery and Gallery Kogure of Japan. YOD Gallery, in particular, will showcase pop art by select Japanese artists.
Ramon Orlina, Michael Cacnio, Anton del Castillo, Robert Alejandro, and National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz comprise some of the artists who will be showcased at the Special Exhibitions of MOCAF. Rare works by Juvenal Sansó will also be on display.
More information, including ticket registration, is available at