Philippines hosts exhibition of contemporary art in southeast asia
As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concludes the commemoration of its 50th anniversary, the Philippines marks the historic occasion by hosting a contemporary art exhibition featuring 10 artists who will represent each ASEAN member state.
The exhibit titled “Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia” is curated by noted art historian, scholar, and curator Patrick D. Flores.
It will be held simultaneously in three major art institutions in the Philippines: the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (MET Manila), the University of the Philippines Vargas Museum (Vargas Museum), and the Yuchengco Museum.
The artists from the region will gather in Manila to open the exhibition on Aug. 8 (MET Manila), Aug. 9 (Yuchengco Museum), and Aug. 10 (Vargas Museum) with a series of programs for each venue. The opening reception of each venue starts at 5 p.m. The exhibition will be on view from Aug. 10 to Oct. 6.
The project is presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through the Dalubhasaan Para sa Edukasyon sa Sining at Kultura (DESK) with the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.
As Flores, who was recently appointed as artistic director of Singapore Biennale 2019, explains, “This undertaking draws attention to the thoughtful and sensitive process of artistic transformation and maturity and tries to avoid the tendency of survey exhibitions to merely select the most popular or the most accessible.
“It also reminds us that artistic practice is not fully formed but rather gleaned in the condition of constant forming. It is this constant forming that the project endeavors to curate,” he adds.
Senator Loren Legarda, one of the Philippines leading cultural advocates, expresses her pride with the recent developments in Philippine contemporary art: “Support for Philippine contemporary art is at its peak with our participation at the Venice Biennale for four consecutive years after a 51-year absence, with Dr. Flores as the first curator since our reentry. This collaborative endeavor further puts the country at the center of contemporary art globally, not just in Asia.”