Inspiration
from the
Philippines
'Longing and Belonging' theme
By Nadine Kam
brings the work of Filipino
artists to Hawaii
Features EditorNo matter where he's traveled around the globe in his search for talent, Hawaii-based art curator Jeffrey Baysa has been most fascinated by the work of Filipino artists.
"Their work is some of the most exciting, and I've found that many of these artists are looking to the Philippines for inspiration, no matter what part of the world they're in."
The idea intrigued him enough to build a show around the theme "Longing and Belonging" that would capture the Filipino expatriate experience. The show has materialized as "At Home & Abroad: 20 Contemporary Filipino Artists," organized by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco in association with the Philippine Centennial Foundation/USA. Baysa served as co-curator with Dana Friis-Hansen, senior curator of the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, and Corazon Alvina of Metropolitan Museum of Manila.
Featured are 50 works -- from paintings and sculpture to video and performance art (in San Francisco only) -- by emerging artists, including Sanggawa, a collaborative group of artists, including Elmer Borlongan, Federico Sievert, Mark Justiniani, Karen Flores and Joy Mallari.
Courtesy of University of Hawaii Gallery
"Door to Door" by Jose Tence Ruiz, is part of the exhibition
"At Home & Abroad: 20 Contemporary Filipino Artists," on view
at the University of Hawai'i Art Gallery through Dec. 11.
Most of the artists whose works are featured are under 40 years old, which Baysa said opened the show to criticism because it excluded some prominent older artists.But he said, "We wanted to look at what is happening now."
Another point of criticism is that Hawaii, with its population of 119,000, is not represented in the roster of artists. Baysa said an invitation was extended to local artist Romolo Valencia, but he declined to participate due to a death in his family.
The show is divided into four themes, including "Indigenous Culture and Colonization," "Christianization and the Church" and "Contemporary Issues." And Baysa's interest is reflected in the "Filipinos Abroad" segment.
Because there are few jobs in the Philippines, it's estimated that one out of 10 Filipinos seeks work abroad. Those who live permanently abroad are known as balikbayans when they visit the Philippines.
A combination of the Tagalog words meaning "to return" and "town" or "nation," balikbayan also describes the large boxes of goods that are brought or sent to the homeland by Filipinos abroad.
Works in the show -- by artists from Europe, Canada, Asia, North America and Australia, as well as the Philippines -- address themes of racism, exploitation of immigrant workers, the mail-order bride phenomenon and cultural displacement.
Courtesy of University of Hawaii Gallery
Roberto B. Feleo's "Bukidon Creation Myth."
Roberto B. Feleo's "Bukidon Creation Myth." The issue of identity is an important one in the Filipino community because of the Philippines history of colonization, pattern of absorbing other cultures and assimilating into other cultures abroad."The American experience in the Philippines is not found in other countries. It's tied into the educational system, so that when they come here it's familiar, yet foreign. There's a feeling of deja vu," Baysa said.
"But I've found that whether they are in Rome, Paris or Hong Kong, they are more tuned into their roots, and their kids are more tuned in."
Gaston Damag, a Filipino artist now living in Paris, still uses imagery bu-lols, the rice gods of the Philippines hill tribes. The work, "Door to Door" by Jose Tence Ruiz relates to the balikbayan.
The show heads next to Houston and the Philippines.
"I think this show will be very inspiring to artists in general and should generate a lot of pride among Filipinos," Baysa said. "I think this show will stand up to any large exhibition."
On view
What: "At Home & Abroad: 20 Contemporary Filipino Artists
