LOPEZ MUSEUM: GROUNDED

"P/Flight"

Museums are not just a place where you can time travel in a snap, it's also a place where you can reflect on the things that happening on your surroundings. Some items in the exhibit seems plain and placid at first, but when you know the story behind it, you'll know it screams radical commentaries. Just like the "GROUNDED" Exhibit at Lopez Museum. A museal neurosis that features top Filipino contemporary artists Toym Imao, Josephine Turalba, Eric Zamuco, etc.

Grounded is a literal and metaphorical take on notions of failure to launch, electronic misfires, immobilized states, rootedness & engagement. This latest exhibition is also apt for the current state of Lopez Museum as it prepares for a big move to Rockwell Makati making this as good a time as any to take stock and push itself through time and space.

The first photo above is there for a reason. "P/Flight" is my favorite work from public artist Abdulmari “Toym” de Leon Imao. He uses his sculptures to bring public attention to specific social issues. Luckily he was there on our visit. He explained to us that this artwork, made of fiberglass, is his emblem for OFW. The tattoos in the body represents the emotional "mark" that remained each departure. Another interesting thing is the fact that these tattoos are based on the blueprint of the airports, where most OFWs work.



Another interesting artwork from Toym Imao is the "Diyos, Choose, Dues" artwork made of fiberglass, sawdust & silica and has a classical art reference. He said this is the result of a 'happy accident' and took three weeks to complete. He also plan to put these in some key places like if there's some public protest, or a building that will be demolished soon, or at a part of Malacanang.


"Ship, Shift, Strip" installation is a commentary on the USS Guardian that ran aground last month in the Tubbataha Reef. Imao recently completed his MFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art on a Fulbright Fellowship. With an art career spanning almost 25 years, his works can be found in the US, Vietnam, and various European countries.


 "Drawn, Drone, Drown" is a representation of  public artist Abdulmari “Toym” de Leon Imao to the recent "bullying" of China to the Philippines. The paper planes represents the Philippines' feeble force compare to China's enormous armory.


"Ang Simula ng Pagsibol" by Goldie Poblador is tauntingly fragile glass piece sculpture made of sandblasted glass, phosphor, neon gas & wood. It change to different color when touched and represents a fetus plant.


Contemporary artist Eric Zamuco exhibit his ceiling installation of gestural imprints on plexiglass called “Not of Water, Flesh and Blood” that reflect his experience and feelings of displacement while living and studying overseas. Zamuco is a UP Fine Arts graduate and recipient of the Cultural Center of the Philippines 13 Artists Award (2003) and Ateneo Art Awards (2005). He has held exhibition in Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, Norway, Sweden, and the US.


Interdisciplinary artist Josephine Turalba presents dis-charged footwear in "Scandals", an experiential installation where guests are encouraged to wear bullet shell sandals to traipse through a once private memory trove of negative images taken during the American colonial period. Turalba completed her MFA in New Media at the Transart Institute at Universität Krems in Austria in 2009 and is currently the Dean of the College of Fine Arts of the Philippine Women’s University. Her videos and sculptural installation works have been shown in Greece, Taiwan, France, and Germany.


While wearing those clunky bullet shell sandals above you can see through these once private memory trove of negative images taken during the American colonial period mostly taken on Baguio and Benguet. Glass bequested by Amb. Jose Teodoro.

 
"A Flying Machine for Icarus" by J. Elizalde Navarro.

Jose Rizal's Travel Memorabilias.

LOPEZ MUSEUM & LIBRARY also have a wide array of  old books & magazines just like this Liwayway Magazines collections dated April 1938.

Also featured in the library are these famous painting by prominent Filipino painter Fernando Amorsolo. Seen here is the "Amancer," "Native Fruits," and "River Scene."

Just like what I've said on the opening paragraph above, GROUNDED features a lot of art installation that seems plain and placid at first, but when you know the story behind it, you'll know it screams radical commentaries. Just like those artworks by public artist Toym Imao. He's using his talent to tell something, and that's all we need to do. We have to do something if we want change especially with the recent happenings just like the Tubbataha Reef incident, the issue with China & Sabah to mention a few. Most of us don't care because we feel we will be not directly affected, but not. This involves the Philippines, our only country.

GROUNDED also reminds to keep my feet on the ground. Though I feel that I'm better compare to others (sometimes) this exhibit made me look back to some of my accomplishments and be proud of it, but still, feel grounded.  Just like the featured artist on this exhibit they've accomplished a lot but they stayed humbled.

ARTISTS TALK ON MARCH 9: IMAO, TURALBA & SAMUCO

Contemporary artists Toym Imao, Josephine Turalba, and Eric Zamuco will discuss their respective works featured in the current exhibition “Grounded” on March 9 (Saturday) from 2-4 pm. They will discuss their processes, choice of materials, subject matter and the challenges and possibilities of art as engagement.

Registration fee for the lecture is Php 120.00 (students Php 100.00) includes admission to the exhibition. RSVP via Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/434082823335919/

Grounded is curated by Back to Square Juan artistic director Claro Ramirez. It will run until August 3, 2013. Museum hours are 8-5pm Mondays through Saturdays except Sundays and holidays.

check out other photos at facebook.com/blog.ph

Lopez Museum and Library
G/F Benpres Bldg., Meralco cor. Exchange Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City
631-2417; 635-9545
Website: http://www.lopez-museum.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lopez_muse
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Lopez.Museum.Library

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9 comments:

  1. It has been months since I ever visited a museum and years since I have been to a museum in the Philippines. Mostly we go to those places for outbound educational trips where we are required to finish a reflection paper analyzing things we see.

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  2. wow i love the installations!!! Toym Imao is a great artist!

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  3. wow that's a rocking Museum!
    Mabuhay ang Pinoy artists!

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  4. The artists in this museum are really creative. Most of the artwork can really make you think.

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  5. Thanks for sharing this museum stuff with us. I love the first photo story, about the tattoo copied from blueprint of airports.

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  6. Wow, just wow! It's really cool to see that Filipino art (both modern and traditional) is well and alive - only if we know where to look. Thanks for sharing this collection!

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  7. I want to visit the museum! I have been to the National Museum, Mind Museum, Palawan Museum, Banawe Museum and Ayala Museum - adding this will greatly widen my horizon.

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  8. Hi, JayL!

    Thank you so much for visiting the museum. We're glad that you were able to reflect on your surroundings when you were here. Hope that you can join our other exhibit-related activities.

    All the best,
    Lopez Museum and Library

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  9. I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted at this website is in fact pleasant.

    ReplyDelete