The rediscovery of Juan Luna’s masterwork “Hymen, oh Hyménée!” offer a fresh opportunity to contemplate the role he played in the early formation of Philippine politics and culture.
Manila
Posted inArt
An Artist Takes Up Residence in Second Life
Although artist Julius Redillas is based in Manila, Philippines, both his day job and much of his art practice are located online.
Posted inArt
The Surreality of Selling Sex
MANILA — The single focus of Filipino artist Manny Montelibano’s short film “Here, distorted” (2016), on view at 1335Mabini, is the lighted floor of a strip club in Bacolod, a city on the island of Negros where the artist lives and works.
Posted inIn Brief
An Art Museum Designed for Taking Selfies
Most museums across the US and Europe have had a difficult time handling the selfie onslaught.
Posted inArt
Selfie Justification
LOS ANGELES — I hit the brakes at a stoplight and turn my head to the left. I spot a young woman waiting for the bus. In golden capital letters on her t-shirt, the words WHY NOT shine boldly.
Posted inArt
Steeped in Tradition but Straining Toward the Future
MANILA, Philippines — There is a sweet dish in the Philippines called halo-halo, a rainbow of beans, fruits, and jellies mixed with ice and topped with ice cream. Literally translated, it means “mix-mix,” as if repetition were needed to reassert its delectable cacophony of flavors. Walking the halls of this year’s ManilART was a bit like working through a tall glass of halo-halo.
Posted inArt
Art and Social Impact in Manila: 3 Shows Worth a Look
MANILA, Philippines — Shortly before I left Manila, I saw three shows that I wanted to take time to review briefly. My own biases as an artist and arts writer lean toward art that engages in some sense with social issues and society, and I found that so much Philippine art really tackled social issues in an interesting and refreshing way. These shows are definitely worth a visit.
Posted inArt
An Artist Grapples With the Worst Documented Attack on Journalists
MANILA, Philippines — On November 23, 2009, just a little over two years ago, Esmael Magundadatu, the vice mayor of the southern Philippine city of Buluan, invited 37 journalists to accompany him as he filed for his certificate of candidacy. The group, along with a cadre of lawyers and family, never made it to their destination.
Posted inArt
Art, Tech and the Tropics: Writing on Philippine Contemporary Art
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — What’s up, Hyperallergic? I’m excited to begin blogging again more regularly this month. I’ve just landed in Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines, to begin a month-long writing residency at Green Papaya Art Projects.
