Art review: ‘Somewhere Out There’ is a utopia at KCC Philippines

We have our own idea of paradise. It may be having grand material possessions, or living the philosophy of Marxism, but when we bring our paradise into the real world, it can possibly turn out to be someone else’s definition of misery.

Through their art, seven Filipino and Korean artists expressed what utopia is to them at the 2015 Philippine-Korean Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition.

Their visions are contrasting. In Christopher Zamora’s “Sing Along,” his personal utopia is drowning in the endless rhythm and noise of rock and roll.

It is a chaotic, fast-paced, loud environment that the next artist tries to run away from.

In Hong Soun’s “Sochi,” trees that appear to be covered in snow purify our inner clutter. Peace in nature can recharge our bodies, minds, and even our souls.

'Sochi' detail

In Eric De Leon Zamuco’s “Una at Huli,” the suggestion of what appears to be wood barks in different stages reminds us of the cycle of life.

'Una at Huli' detail

Or maybe paradise is a place where our thoughts can drift freely, realizing that the answers we often seek are always in the form of questions. In Lyra Garcellano’s “Sweep,” the video shows a continuous shot of the countryside while the artist annotates the questions back to whoever is viewing it from the window—in this case, the reflection on the screen offers an illusion that the viewer is the one seated by the window.



“Let’s imagine a home that can possibly imagine us back.”

Maybe paradise is already the world we live in.

Consumerism can make us forget who we are. Manila’s daily grind is the chosen topic in “Trifling Moment” by An Se Eun. We often forget that beauty is in the small details of the things we often throw away or take for granted, as depicted by the images produced by painstakingly dropped acrylic paint that have a mother-of-pearl finish upon closer inspection.

'Trifling Moment' detail

'Trifling Moment' detail

'Trifling Moment' detail

Consumerism often cures our fear of missing out, but in the process, time slips by our hands, as seen in An Gyung Su and Jung Jae Ho’s canvases.

An old house and a simple plastic pool are An Gyung Su’s totem in wonderland...

...while old technology is Jung Jae Ho’s reminder of happier times.

'Kilogram' by Jung Jae Ho (Acrylic on Korean paper)

The use of “Hanji”—a traditional Korean paper used in myriad crafts including the sheeting on doors and windows of traditional “Hanok” (Korean houses) adds a more vintage feel to the already nostalgic subject.

'Writing' detail

'Kilogram' detail

Charred dinner plates and mahjong pieces show a life that is not served on a silver platter. Filipinos are used to laughing despite problems, but the display pieces of “Kain” and “Pinalad” question our definition of happiness and simplicity in contrast to our turbulent situation and unfounded belief in luck.

The dinner plates were etched with swirl patterns to suggest wind turbulence, Zamuco explains.

On a grander scale, utopia is when we find ourselves. Garcellano’s second video, “Double Consciousness,” shows a school setting, where a student is speaking in different tongues, including Spanish, French, and Japanese.



Finally, the student’s notebook is revealed. Everything was in the ancient Filipino script of Baybayin. In her perfect world, the country has realized its national consciousness.

On the Korean side, the comeback of its traditional soul was established after the Japanese occupation and the Korean War. The country's cultural identity was brought back into general consciousness through restoration efforts and rediscovery of their cultural treasures. On our side, the Baybayin script is slowly creeping back into the modern times, not exclusively in academia but also through pop culture, designs, and technology.

As these artists have shown, the world may not be perfect, but it can be a place where you can be yourself, or a place you can find solace, or a realization of your true self as an individual or a citizen of your country. What’s more beautiful than that is the journey in getting there. — BM, GMA News

The 2015 Philippine-Korean Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibit is an annual event by the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines to highlight the talents of both Korean and Filipino artists in celebration of our bilateral relationship through exchange of ideas and art. Last year’s theme celebrated our “Coexistence in Asia.”

The exhibit runs until May 27, 2015. For more information, follow KCC on Facebook  and Twitter.