Triumph of Philippine Art

In cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General of New York, Montclair State University and the renowned Ayala Museum (Manila) will host an exhibition of contemporary Philippine art, inspired by the South Pacific archipelago’s long history of socio-economic/political struggles and their search for a national identity. Titled Triumph of Philippine Art, the unique retrospective is the first exhibit to ever specifically use artwork to tell the nation’s political story, beginning with the oppression of the martial law period (1972-1986), leading up to the 1986 non-violent “revolution that surprised the world” and ultimately resulting in the vibrant and robust art of a free society at the turn of the 21st century. The exhibit will be displayed at the University’s George Segal Gallery from September 21 through December 15, 2013.

“The exhibit features works produced during one of the most turbulent periods in Philippine history, which led to a paradigm shift in the nation’s political, economic and sociocultural life,” said Mario L. De Leon, Jr., Consulate General of the Philippines. “The art of the period, as seen through the featured artists, mirrors the developments in these event-filled years and acts as a prism through which history and its ramifications are refracted and viewed. The imprint of Triumph of Philippine Art will be felt for generations.”

Curated by Director of the George Segal Gallery, M. Teresa Lapid Rodriguez – a Philippine-born artist/art historian who experienced first-hand the repressive regime of President Ferdinand Marcos – the exhibit is the centerpiece of a multi-disciplinary campus-wide series of events celebrating Filipino culture, history and art (complete listing below). Rodriguez will give a public lecture about the exhibit, offering historical context for Filipino art.

The timing of the exhibit coincides with the rise of a robust Asian art collectors market, in which contemporary Filipino art is experiencing a major surge in popularity. The combination of the country’s post-revolution rebirth of artistic freedom, the opening of national museums and private galleries and the creation of the National Commission on Culture act in the late 20th century to promote the development of Filipino culture and arts, have aligned to make the Philippines a serious contender on the international art stage. Auction giants Sotheby’s and Christie’s have set up bases in Hong Kong and Singapore, where they regularly have Philippine art on their short lists of favorites due to its consistently good performance. 

 “Undoubtedly, the unique imagery of Filipino art can be attributed to the transformation that has occurred in the country over the past fifty years,” said Rodriguez. “That the Philippines is primitive, feudal, and modern all at the same time, translates into an artistic advantage in establishing a body of distinctive work in the globally competitive art market. Considering that Filipino art was categorized as folk art by the Western art world and was rarely reviewed until fifteen years ago, the highly-collectable status that Philippine Art is currently enjoying is nothing short of a national triumph.”

The works selected for Triumph of Philippine Art fall into categories including Figurative Expressionism and Social Realism, Feminism, A New Generation in the 21st Century and Conceptual Art and demonstrate the varied and distinctive imagery that represents Philippine contemporary art. Artists being featured are: Leo Abaya, Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Buen Calubayan, Ernest Concepcion, Mideo Cruz, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Brenda Fajardo, Karen Ocampo Flores, Michael Rodriguez Gomez, Gregory Raymond Halili, Mark Orozco Justiniani, Julie Lluch, Athena Santos Magcase-Lopez, Racquel De Loyola, Renan Ortiz, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Mark Salvatus and Pablo Baen Santos.

Rodriguez, is delighted by the international support that this exhibit has generated, and is gratified that it may bring further understanding, not only of the rich and complex Filipino history and culture, but also of the fact that art is a universal expression of the human experience on a global level. “Each work, in its own way, is a Filipino ambassador to the world, representing the struggles of a people and the ultimate emergence of a national identity,” said Rodriguez. “Montclair State University is honored to provide a venue for this powerful and fascinating collection, and we hope that it will serve as a point of pride for those of Filipino heritage as well as ring true for people of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. Art, after all, is a universal expression, and struggle is – unfortunately – a global human condition.”

About Montclair State University

Montclair State University, montclair.edu, offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs to a highly diverse population of more than 19,000 students in an expansive university setting that combines an intensive focus on student learning and academic success. The George Segal Gallery, which has received numerous Citation Awards from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its excellence in artistic programming and public service to the arts, hosts visitors from around the world to view its collections.  For more information, go to http://www.montclair.edu/arts/university-art-galleries-george-segal-gallery.

Opening Reception:

Saturday, September 21, 2013, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Educational Programs (at George Segal Gallery)

Online streaming: Montclair to Manila

Live Dialogue with the artists Wednesday, September 25, 2013, 9:00 a.m.

English in the Philippines: Burden or Benediction

Luis Francia, speaker

Thursday, October 10, 2013, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Triumph of Philippine Art

M. Teresa Lapid Rodriguez, speaker

Thursday, October 17, 2013, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

The Colonial Roots of Violence Against Women in the Philippines

Ninotchka Rosca, speaker

Thursday, October 24, 2013, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Filipina Feminism and Sexuality

Dr. Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza, speaker

Thursday, December 5, 2013, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Around Campus

Classic Filipino Piano Scores played by Reynaldo Reyes

Sunday, November 17, 2013, 1:45 p.m.

Leshowitz Recital Hall at Chapin Hall

Triumphant Future: Filipino-American Youth Forum

Wednesday, December 4, 2013, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Student Center Ballroom

Musical Journey: Struggles for Cultural Identity

Philippine Chamber Rondalla of NJ

Saturday, December 7, 2013, 1:45 – 3:15 p.m.

Chorale Room at Chapin Hall