TIES OF HISTORY Art in Southeast Asia Philippines Hosts Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Southeast Asia “Ties of history” is a phrase taken from a document signed by ASEAN’s founding members on August 8, 1967. The document describes “a region already bound Exhibition: Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia together by ties of history and culture.” A region that is “conscious that in an increasingly interdependent world, the cherished ideals of peace, freedom, social Venue: Metropolitan Museum of Manila justice, and economic well-being are best attained by fostering good understanding, University of the Philippines Vargas Museum good neighbourliness, and meaningful cooperation among the countries of the Yuchengco Museum region.” The document gave birth to the regional organization, which taken as a collective is the world’s 5th largest economy. Dates: August 8 to October 6, 2018 Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia is a survey of contemporary art, on the one Social Media: @tiesofhistory hand. On the other, it is a diligent study of a particular practice. The project selects three works of each artist from the ASEAN countries to be exhibited in three Opening Reception: 5pm – 9pm institutions. This enables the exhibition to present a more in-depth look into the August 8 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila interests of the artist and allows the audience from different parts of the city to view August 9 at the Yuchengco Museum the exhibition. August 10 at the University of the Philippines Vargas Museum As Flores, who was recently appointed as Artistic Director of Singapore Biennale 2019, explains, “this undertaking…draws attention to the thoughtful and sensitive MANILA, PHILIPPINES – As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) process of artistic transformation and maturity and tries to avoid the tendency of concludes the commemoration of its 50th anniversary, the Philippines marks the survey exhibitions to merely select the most popular or the most accessible.” historic occasion by hosting a contemporary art exhibition featuring ten artists who will represent each ASEAN member state. “It also reminds us that artistic practice is not fully formed but rather gleaned in the condition of constant forming. It is this constant forming that the project endeavors The exhibit titled Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia is curated by noted art to curate,” he adds. historian, scholar, and curator Patrick D. Flores. NCCA Chairman Virgilio Almario agrees that “[t]here is much to gain in gathering the It will be held simultaneously in three major art institutions in the Philippines: the talents of the region in order to view not only their works but to also reflect on the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (MET Manila), the University of the Philippines realities each of them respond to.” He further emphasizes that “it is a proud moment Vargas Museum (Vargas Museum), and the Yuchengco Museum. that the Philippines initiates this celebration of ASEAN artists.” The exhibition’s artists from the region will gather in Manila to open the exhibition Almario also remarks on the importance of the ASEAN in the current climate. For on Aug 8 (MET Manila), 9 (Yuchengco Museum), and 10 (Vargas Museum) with a him, “[the] ASEAN is a unique regional organization because it aims to be known to series of programs for each venue. The opening reception of each venue starts at 5pm. the world as one community despite its diversity in religion, race, and culture. In a The exhibition will be on view from August 10 to October 6, 2018. world troubled by differences in belief, finding peace may be meditated through art that lets us see the threads that string us together.” The project is presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through the Dalubhasaan Para sa Edukasyon sa Sining at Kultura (DESK) Senator Loren Legarda, one of the Philippines leading cultural advocates, expresses with the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda. her pride with the recent developments in Philippine contemporary art: “Support for Philippine contemporary art is at its peak with our participation at the Venice Biennale for four consecutive years after a 51-year absence, with Dr. Flores as the first curator since our re-entry. This collaborative endeavor further puts the country at the center of contemporary art globally, not just in Asia. I invite our ASEAN neighbors to continue this art project annually or in the form of a biennial in the same manner by which we host political and economic affairs in ASEAN.” 7th Floor Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale Office 633 General Luna St, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila Tel: (+632) 527-2192 local 727 A project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in partnership with Dalubhasaan Para sa Edukasyon sa Sining at Kultura (DESK) E-mail: [email protected] and the support of the Office of Senator Loren Legarda Social media (FB, twitter, IG): @tiesofhistory Selection Process A contemporary artist based in Singapore known for her Working with photography and the moving image, A network of practitioners in contemporary art in the region collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to art, Chris Chong Chan Fui (b. 1972) from Malaysia was consulted in the selection of artists for the exhibition. Amanda Heng (b. 1951) explores social issues in the questions and redirects how humans work within such These advisors include Ahmad Mashadi, Head of the context of Singapore’s inter-cultural social milieu. intersecting fields as economics and ecology. National University of Singapore Museum; Khim Ong, Deputy Director, Curatorial Programmes at Nanyang Technological University Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (NTU CCA Singapore); Loredana Pazzini-Paracciani, independent curator, writer, and lecturer of Southeast Asian contemporary art; and Roberto Feleo (b. 1954) is a seminal Philippine artist independent curator and scholar Grace Samboh. whose works are sharp sociohistorical commentaries on Jedsada Tangtrakulwong (b. 1972) lives and works in Philippine myth and history and creative investigations Thailand. His practice is informed by Thai cultural sign into local materials and techniques. systems and reflects on the delicacy of daily existence. Public Program The public is invited to join an artist talk and roundtable discussion with the advisors from the region as they discuss Known for his practice that includes the use of natural contemporary art in Southeast Asia on August 11 at the MET materials and traditional tools used in Indonesian craft, Museum. There will also be a public and education program Anusapati (b. 1957) has inspired a younger generation Min Thein Sung (b. 1978), born and based in to feature talks and lectures by scholars of and practitioners of artists disposed to respond to craft, modernism, and Myanmar, works with and on motifs, media, and in the region in the duration of the exhibition’s run. the environment. processes inspired by the everyday and his childhood. For details relating to the exhibition’s education programs, please check our social media pages @tiesofhistory or email us at [email protected] to be added to our mailing list. Do Hoang Tuong (b. 1960) of Vietnam belongs to an Artist and curator Vuth Lyno (b. 1982) from Cambodia influential generation of abstract painters in the South of is the Co-founding Artistic Director of Sa Sa Art Projects, Vietnam in the 1990s. From an academic perspective an artist-run space initiated by the Stiev Selapak and within the narrative space of his paintings, he collective in Phnom Penh. His artistic and curatorial expresses the desire of a founding condition of a new practice is primarily participatory in nature, exploring subjectivity. collective learning and experimentation. Savanhdary Vongpoothorn (b. 1971) was born in Laos and came to Australia in 1979. Her practice Working with organic materials, Yasmin Jaidin (b. implicates Lao cultural references interwoven with 1987), a contemporary artist from Brunei, interrogates Australian and other cultural mediations in a productive how these elements are often overlooked in the context space of resettlement. of contemporary life. TIES OF HISTORY Art in Southeast Asia Philippines Hosts Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Southeast Asia “Ties of history” is a phrase taken from a document signed by ASEAN’s founding members on August 8, 1967. The document describes “a region already bound Exhibition: Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia together by ties of history and culture.” A region that is “conscious that in an increasingly interdependent world, the cherished ideals of peace, freedom, social Venue: Metropolitan Museum of Manila justice, and economic well-being are best attained by fostering good understanding, University of the Philippines Vargas Museum good neighbourliness, and meaningful cooperation among the countries of the Yuchengco Museum region.” The document gave birth to the regional organization, which taken as a collective is the world’s 5th largest economy. Dates: August 8 to October 6, 2018 Ties of History: Art in Southeast Asia is a survey of contemporary art, on the one Social Media: @tiesofhistory hand. On the other, it is a diligent study of a particular practice. The project selects three works of each artist from the ASEAN countries to be exhibited in three Opening Reception: 5pm – 9pm institutions. This enables the exhibition to present a more in-depth look into the August 8 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila interests of the artist and allows the audience