NEW YORK – Philippine Nostalgia, a three-man exhibition, will open at the Philippine Center on October 10, 2017. The exhibit explores the fascinating aspects of Philippine life by looking back on the sentimental and iconic Filipino ways of life.
Curated by UP Fine Arts Professor Rubén DF Defeo, Philippine Nostalgia features the new works of three Philippine-based artists: Carlito Amalla, Gari Apolonio and Denes Dasco. They are graduates of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts in Diliman, Quezon City.
Amalla holds a BFA Sculpture degree and an MA in Art History. Apolonio holds a BFA Major in Art History and Dasco is a BFA Painting degree holder.
Each artist explores the aspects of Philippine life that is closest to their heart. Amalla depicts the dance traditions of indigenous peoples from Luzon to Mindanao. He chose this theme as he is an Agusan Manobo himself. Growing up, he knows these dances instinctively and he feels the need to preserve and promote it at a time when Philippine society is modernizing at a faster pace.
Apolonio explores the tradition of local komiks by giving tribute to the komiks creators and their creations. Komiks provided fun leisure time during its heyday with its engrossing stories and superior illustrations. His works reimagine komiks by bringing back some of the great illustrations from the 1940s to the 1990s.
Dasco, on the other hand, explores the theme that is universally-experienced by every Filipino—street games. Street games such as patintero, taguan, tumbang preso and luksong tinik made Filipinos’ childhood a happy period worth remembering and retelling among family and friends.
The exhibit is supported by the De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts in Manila. The exhibition will run from October 10 to 20, 2017. Reception will be held on October 13, 6 p.m. with Consul General Theresa De Vega as Guest of Honor.
Amalla and Apolonio will give an Artist Talk to the Filipino-American community and students on October 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. They envision to provide the new generation of Filipino-Americans to get a better understanding and appreciation of their culture. They hope to connect the audience to indigenous dances/costumes and traditional komiks. The Talk will be followed by an open forum and art demonstrations.
