As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) concludes the commemoration of its 50th anniversary, the Philippines marks the historic occasion by hosting a contemporary art exhibition featuring ten artists who will represent each Asean member state.
The exhibit titled “Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia” is curated by noted art historian, scholar, and curator Patrick Flores.
It will be held simultaneously in three major art institutions in the Philippines: the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (MET Manila), the University of the Philippines Vargas Museum and the Yuchengco Museum.
A total of 10 artists represent its Asean members state in ‘Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia’
Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia aims to identify artists from across generations who have demonstrated both responsiveness and range in relation to the concerns of aesthetic material and socio-historical contexts.
As such, participating artists include Singapore’s Amanda Heng, Philippines’ Roberto Feleo, Indonesia’s Anusapati, Vietnam’s Do Hoang Tuong, Laos’ Savanhdary Vongpoothorn, Malaysia’s Chris Chong Chan Fui, Thailand’s Jedsada Tangtrakulwong, Myanmar’s Min Thein Sung, Cambodia’s Vuth Lyno and Brunei’s Yasmin Jaidin.
The exhibition’s artists from the region will gather in Manila to open the exhibition on August 8 (MET Manila), 9 (Yuchengco Museum), and 10 (Vargas Museum) with a series of programs for each venue. The opening reception of each venue starts at 5 p.m. The exhibition will be on view from August 10 to October 6.
The project is presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through the Dalubhasaan Para sa Edukasyon sa Sining at Kultura (DESK) with the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.
“Ties of history” is a phrase taken from a document signed by Asean’s founding members on August 8, 1967.
The document describes “a region already bound together by ties of history and culture.”
Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia is a survey of contemporary art, on the one hand. On the other, it is a diligent study of a particular practice. The project selects three works of each artist from the Asean countries to be exhibited in three institutions.
As Flores, who was recently appointed as Artistic Director of Singapore Biennale 2019, explained, “This undertaking draws attention to the thoughtful and sensitive process of artistic transformation and maturity and tries to avoid the tendency of survey exhibitions to merely select the most popular or the most accessible.”
“It also reminds us that artistic practice is not fully formed but rather gleaned in the condition of constant forming. It is this constant forming that the project endeavors to curate,” he finally added.
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