‘Almost There’ at UP Vargas Museum annotates Philippine history

What is Southeast Asia? The question hovers around each piece at "Almost There", the third exhibit in Japan Foundation Asia Center's "Condition Report."

The exhibit is curated by Patrick Flores, who also curated the Philippine Pavilion at the 56th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, and Che Kyongfa from Japan, with the help of Ayos Purwoaji Surip Mawardi (Indonesia), Lisa Ito-Tapang (Philippines) and Lyno Vuth (Cambodia).

Filipino artists Universe Baldoza, Cian Dayrit, Winner Jumalon, and Maria Taniguchi are joined by Ho Rui An (Singapore) Carolina Caycedo (UK/Colombia/US), Kapwani Kiwanga (Canada/France), Runo Lagomarsino (Sweden/Brazil), An-My Le (Vietnam/US), Futoshi Miyagi (Japan), Fuminori Nousaku (Japan), and Shen Shao Min (China) in a reflection of "intimacy and power."

Performance groups Philippine Educational Theater (PETA) and Sipat Lawin Ensemble also contributed to the exhibit.

PETA performed "Ang Hatol Sa Guhit na Bilog" on Thursday (March 2), while Adrienne Vergara of Sipat Lawin is set to perform "Mascot History" on Sunday, April 6.

Carolina Caycedo's "A Genealogy of Struggle" invites introspection. A large tree is painted on the wall, memorializing environmental activists and leaders. At the foot of the large but stark mural are candles decorated with the details of the achievements and struggles of 10 environmental activists from the Philippines and Latin America.

A vigil in their honor is scheduled on Saturday, March 4 at the UP Sunken Garden from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

A Genealogy of Struggle by Carolina Caycedo | UP Vargas Museum pic.twitter.com/W2DSIptYIb

— Aya Tantiangco Miura (@ayaruim) March 2, 2017

In one corner of the museum, the public can watch Universe Baldoza's 2014 film "Marciano", a documentary that follows the life and death of a gay man working as OFW in Paris for 25 years.

On March 24, Baldoza will discuss the film with Flores in a forum at the museum.

"Almost There" is preceded by Sindikat Campursari in Jakarta and Escape from the Sea in Kuala Lumpur and it will be followed by Mode of Liaisons in Bangkok. — Aya Tantiangco, GMA News