Art Dubai Marker 2016: The Philippines
Art Dubai is set to mark its 10th year in 2016 as the leading international art fair in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions. Over the years, the fair, which is the largest of its kind in the area, has been celebrated as a central meeting point for the region’s booming art community.
This year Art Dubai will feature more than 500 local and international artists from 90 countries worldwide broken down by contemporary and modern works, and the lauded Marker, a specially curated exhibition that focuses on a particular geography and theme.
Marker 2016 is set to focus on the artistic production of the Philippines and will be the first time that an international showcase will share the dynamic and independent art scene of the country.
Twenty young and emerging Filipino artists who are fervent creators, and actively contribute to the Manila art scene will address a range of issues from community to economy through the mediums of painting, photographs, videos, sculptures, and installations, said Ringo Bunoan, Curator, Marker 2016. At the centre of this exhibition will also be the work and a major installation of Roberto Chabet (1937-2013) a Filipino artist, teacher at University of Philippines for Fine Art and curator renowned and revered for his pursuit of conceptual art.
“His pioneering efforts in the 60s and 70s paved the way for the development of contemporary art in the Philippines. Apart from artworks, we are also including artist books and other publications on Philippine modern and contemporary art,” said Bunoan.
Ringo Bunoan is the curator behind it all. Based in Manila, and an advocate and avid supporter of those in the arts, Bunoan has received multiple awards for her work that has been exhibited around the world, and addresses pertinent issues within a contemporary social and artistic context in her works.
She initiated the space Big Sky Mind soon after graduating from The University of the Philippines in the late 1990s, since then having been involved in numerous independent art projects, and also started archiving artist run spaces, when working for Asia Art Archive (AAA) from 2007 to 2013. Such spaces are integral to Filipino artists because they provide a platform for artists to create and present works outside the usual conventions of galleries and museums, explained Bunoan. “They allow artists to experiment and test new ideas, which are necessary for the development of art. They also nurture communities and encourage dialog and exchange between artists and their publics.”
Her dedication is certainly not something to be refuted, neither is the rich artistic output coming from the Philippines and what makes it a perfect candidate to feature in this Marker showcase.
“The art scene in the Philippines has definitely gotten bigger in the last 10 years, with so many new artists, galleries, museums and art spaces, and opportunities for artists to create and exhibit their work both locally and abroad.”
“There are so many artists doing interesting works in the Philippines, it would be difficult to name just a few. For Marker, my aim was to give visibility to young and emerging artists whose works are under the radar so to speak. It’s also a tribute to Roberto Chabet, who despite his pioneering work and influence remains quite underrepresented,” she says.
The timing is perfect for Marker’s focus on the Philippines she explains. This is not only because of the large Filipino community based in the Middle East, but also because the Philippines has one of the strongest emerging art scenes in Asia which deserves the spotlight.
She explains that while the art of the Philippines has been gaining more of a presence across Asia, a focus from other parts of the globe and the Middle East has somewhat waned. Dubai is an important cultural hub that connects Asia with Europe and is an ideal gateway to introduce contemporary Philippine art to a wider, new audience, this exhibition therefore is a kind of golden ticket to showcase the extraordinary work of the Philippine art community.
Filipino culture is complex, rich and holds a great cultural currency due to the many influences that compose its rich cultural tapestry. It’s simply unique.
“The Philippines is geographically separated from the Asian mainland and therefore has its own distinct archipelagic culture that is not isolated, but is in touch with the world. Our culture is rich and multi-layered and is informed by many influences from other places,” she said.
“Rather than attempting to define a singular Filipino culture, I believe it’s more productive to highlight the diversity and differences that make up our identity as a people.”
Bunoan explains some of the major differences between art produced in the Philippines and the rest of the world. Firstly, artists working in the Philippines have to deal with certain economic conditions, such as weak institutional support for the arts vis-á-vis a dominant art market and secondly, being mindful of the burden by their colonial history and coming to terms with their own distinct identity as a people.
“All these issues shape Philippine art today, but as I explained earlier, I don’t think there is a singular definition of Philippine art and I’m resistant to the usual essentialist positions or stereotypical views of what Philippine art is supposed to be,” she adds.
This year’s Marker promises not only to be an excellent artistic experience but also will provide an all important glimpse into the world of Filipino art, the issues surrounding it, and the messages that the artists are trying to share with the world.
We are proud to partner with Art Dubai as a media partner for a second consecutive year. Art Dubai 2016 will take place from Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 March 2016 in locations around Dubai. Stay tuned to our Facebook , Instagram and Twitter for updates from the event.
—
