Australian, Filipino artists explore shared experiences in 'Immemorial'

MANILA, Philippines - Australian and Filipino artists have collaborated to explore the ties that bind Australia and the Philippines in “Immemorial: Reaching Back Beyond Memory,” on view until Dec. 2 at the Jorge B Vargas Museum, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City.

The exhibition, organized by 24HR Art-Northern Territory Center for Contemporary Art and Green Papaya Art Projects with the support of Vargas Museum and the Australian Embassy, features the installation pieces of Australian artists Simon Cooper, Julie Gough, Rhys Lee, Pip McManus, Simon Pericich and Filipino artists Yason Banal and Enzo Camacho, Victor Balanon and Ferdz Valencia, Jed Escueta, Lyra Garcellano and Gary-Ross Pastrana. 

Exhibit curator and 24HR Art director Steve Eland describes “Immemorial” as an “extraordinary cultural exchange within a current social and political context, endeavoring to invigorate dialogue between cultures by way of an amalgamation of research, artistic and critical practice.”  

An artwork by Pip McManus

Ambassador Rod Smith said the exhibition contributes significantly to the Australia-Philippines relationship by highlighting the deep connections between our countries.

“Australia and the Philippines share a vibrant relationship marked by our shared perspectives on many international and regional issues. More than 200,000 Filipinos have made Australia their home and our people-to-people links continue to grow significantly through trade, tourism, migration and cultural exchanges such as this exhibition,” Ambassador Smith said.

24HR Art and Green Papaya’s partnership began in 2002 when Norberto Roldan, Green Papaya’s founder and “Immemorial” co-curator, was invited to “Ignite” — a series of intensive curatorial workshops in Darwin.

Since then, they have hosted exhibitions and residencies in both countries, including “Pain + Pleasure” in Australia in 2003; Australian artist David Grigg’s “The Buko Police” in Manila in 2005; and “Jumpcut,” a collection of video works by 18 Filipino video artists for a screening program in Darwin in 2008.

“Immemorial: Reaching Back Beyond Memory” is also supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy and Contemporary Arts Organisations Australia.

The exhibit is open to public from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 928-1927, 981-8500 local 4024/4023 or visit www.vargas museum.org and www. greenpapaya artprojects.org.