What constitutes a family in today’s times? Over the last
generation or so, the nuclear unit of the family - father, mother, and their
children–has both altered and remained the same, in concept and in composition.
While clearly defined by law, society and the church,the notion of
family has arguably changed beginning in the late 20th century, as people in
many parts of the world live in unprecedented freedom - in mobility, work,
education, lifestyle, ideas and, not least, technological and information
access.
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Guenivere Decena Look in The Mirror and Say I Love You acrylic on canvas 36X48 inches |
This July, Orange Project proudly presents Modern Negrense Family, which is curated by Georgina Luisa "Gina" O. Jocson, whose curatorial projects and cultural entrepreneurship endeavors
focused on the development and promotion of the arts and culture ecosystem of
Negros Occidental and the Visayas region. For third-world countries such as the Philippines, whose
majority population belongs to the lower to middle income categories, the
makeup of the core family unit has become vulnerable to these factors,
including the state-sponsored valorisation of the Overseas Filipino Worker
(OFW) or bagong bayani as savior of the economy. As
the University of the Philippines Population
Institute has declared: “The Filipino family is in transition.”
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Ann Gaurana |
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Guenivere Decena |
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Angela Silva |
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Moreen Austria |
The exhibit MODERN NEGRENSE FAMILY aims to explore the
nuances of the Filipino family’s “transitions” by focusing on the specificities
of the southern province of Negros Occidental, the sixth most populous in the
country.
To do this, the exhibit has tapped seventeen local artists to respond
to the question: what is the modern Negrense family? With ages ranging from 20s
to 80s, this diverse group of artists represents three generations of Negrense
family life, holding up lenses of various strengths and transparencies from
which to look critically at the state of families in their communities, without
sparing their own.
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Olive Gloria Time is Greater Than Space 74x57 inches mixed media fabric work |
%20Base%208x8%20and%2010x10%20inches%20broken%20glass%20plastic%20resin%20granite%20wood.JPG) |
Moreen Austria The Non-Articulation of Being and In A Family (Lion series, Elephant series) Base 8x8 and 10x10 inches broken glass plastic resin granite wood |
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Neil Benavente Into The Ring of Fire 58.5x47.5 inches oil on canvas |
The resulting collection of paintings, sculptures, prints,
photographs, mixed media works, and installations present affecting portraits
of contemporary local family life, which point to sociological, psychological,
and politico-economic issues that need unpacking and further understanding.
Abandonment, separation, economic hardship, and pervasiveness of technology are
some of the themes that overlap throughout the exhibition.
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Ann Gaurana The Lovers 60x48 inches acrylic and oil on canvas |
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Frelan Gonzaga [Father] Figures 44x68 inches oil, spray paint on canvas |
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Mikiboy Pama Mag Dayon Kamo 96x48 inches mixed media assemblage |
MODERN NEGRENSE FAMILY is not designed to be comprehensive
and definitive in its representation, nor is it meant to be an occasion for
artists, as well as viewers, to pass judgment on one another. This exhibition
hopes to give voice to a diversity and plurality of perspectives and to
engender a conversation that can be beneficial for all.
Participating
Artists include Rafael Paderna, Rodney Martinez, Perry Argel, Angela
Silva, Roedil “Joe” Geraldo, Revo Yanson, Neil
Benavente, Darel Javier, Frelan
“Pakz” Gonzaga, Moreen
Austria , Olive Gloria, Michael John “Mikiboy” Pama , Guenivere Decena,
Erika Mayo, Brandon Braza, Vincent Sarnate, and Ann Gaurana.
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