All that is Filipino in the art at the 'Hong Kong: New Natives' exhibit

It seems that Philippine art will be burgeoning and vibrant no matter where in the world its artists are situated.

If you happen to be in Hong Kong's Wong Chuk Hang district on April 30, drop by the Lightbombs Contemporary space between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the grand opening of “Hong Kong: New Natives”.

The exhibition features 28 Filipino artists whose works explore “Filipino contentions with distance, territory and identity, furthering the concepts of exploration, liberation and the home,” according to Lightbombs Contemporary in a press release.

Bear witness to photos, collages, paintings, illustrations, and sculptures that are “liberated from notions of the geographical.”

Highlights surreal and monochrome
 

Some of the exhibit highlights include Gel Jamlang's “Fall”—a surreal acrylic and watercolor painting featuring a woman and a half, both figures bleeding flowers from the eyes, mouth, and head—which can be read as a statement on the constraining societal expectations on Filipina women.
 
Meanwhile, Archie Geotina's “1% Luxury: The Constraints Of Public Opinion” is a black and white painting done in China ink and acrylic, showcasing two classy but otherwise crumpled bags.

One way of looking at it is how the painting seems to address a certain poor vs. rich mentality in the nation, like the case of public outrage against lawmakers and certain individuals who flaunt their luxuries.
 
There is also the mixed media print of Dex Fernandez called “Happy Shizocouple,” another surreal work with all the colors of a fiesta surrounding two gray, monochromatic figures. It may be trying to say something about the dynamics of a union that is anything but dull.

Participating artists include Noberto Roldan, whose works are part of the Guggenheim Museum's No Country show; Stephanie Syjuco, whose works are part of the Whitney Museum's permanent collection; and Mark Salvatus, who won the 2013 Schoeni prize from the Sovereign Art Foundation.

Artists Arnel Agawin, Wawi Navarroza, Costantino Zicarelli, and Bobbit Segismundo will be present to give tours of the exhibit.

Other participating artists include:

• Ringo Bunoan
• Felix Bacolor
• Gary-Ross Pastrana
• Jed Escueta
• Romeo Lee
• Christina Quisumbing Ramilo
• Maya Muñoz
• Zeus Bascon
• Neil Arvin Javier
• Anya Villanueva
• Pancho Villanueva
• Marija Vicente
• Gail Vicente
• Michael Arcega
• Victor Balanon
• Pin Calacal
• Jay Yao
• Alvin Zafra

“Hong Kong: New Natives” will run until May 30. After the grand opening, the exhibit will be open to the public from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Vida Cruz/JDS, GMA News