Philippine Art Exhibit in Seoul

After the Filipino film makers made headlines in the 13th Pusan International Film Festival, 4 more Filipino artists are displaying their talents over at capital Seoul.

Fiesta Mood at Philippine Art Exhibit

"Nipa Hut" by Filipino artist Jimmy Vista By Cathy Rose A. Garcia  Staff Reporter  A Philippine-style fiesta will kick off the opening of an exhibition featuring works by four artists from the Philippines.  ``Kapuluan (Archipelago): Islands of Diversity'' opens Wednesday at Gallery Nuri, Korea Foundation Cultural Center, downtown Seoul. The exhibition, organized by the Philippine Embassy, features works by William Gaudinez, Loreta Medina, Samuel Penaso and Jimmy Vista.  Highlighting the rich cultural diversity, the Filipino artists drew inspiration from the various islands in the Philippines. ``Each artist draws on intense inner visions, collective memories and sorrows brought on by geography, history, identity, ancestry and contemporary society,'' the embassy said, in a statement.  At the opening ceremony, visitors will be treated to a poetry reading by Medina, performance art by Penaso as well as traditional performances and a chance to sample authentic Philippine cuisine. Medina, an artist based in Seoul who helped organize the event, said she wanted to create a ``fiesta atmosphere'' for the exhibition's opening ceremony.  In her works, Medina uses tree bark made by the Mangyans, an indigenous group from Mindoro Island in the Philippines. She transforms the images she sees in the tree bark and turns them into her own unique artwork.  But Medina also wants to highlight the beauty of the Mangyan tree bark. ``I think the art show is a showcase of the Mangyan tree bark and its various uses, how versatile it is and how rich Philippine culture is. We have forgotten our roots. The show is an act of going back to our roots. If we only look closely and go back to the past, we will be richer psychologically. We can share with the rest of the world our heritage and cultural wealth,'' she said.  Gaudinez uses seashells, gems, animal stones and bones to create colorful assemblages and wall works that often resemble Catholic Church altars. He was an artist-in-residence in Gwangju last year, and his works have been brought to France, Greece, and the United States. Penaso, a visual and performance artist, creates abstract paintings depicting the beauty of his hometown, Bohol Island. Vista, an artist from Tanay, Rizal, depicts rural Filipino life in his watercolor paintings.  Aside from the artworks, the exhibition will feature the old Mangyan syllabary and other cultural artifacts.  Mangyan poet Ponyong Karpo Kadlos will be at the opening ceremony to recite ``ambahan,'' an old poetic form that existed before the Philippines was colonized.  The Mangyans write on the tree bark and bamboo using the old script, which was designated as a Philippine National Treasure and is included in the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. There will be a seminar on Mangyan culture and heritage on Oct. 14 at the center. The exhibition runs through Oct. 18. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Sundays. Admission is free. Visit www.kfcenter.or.kr or call the Philippine Embassy cultural officer at (02) 796-2403. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr