MPUEBLO
  • Home
  • Portfolio
    • Art-like-Art
    • Life-like-Art
    • New Genre Public Art
  • About
  • News
  • Contact

Karakoa Journeys:
From Past to Present

Opening on Sept 9, 2023
Nakanojo Museum of Folk Art and History
This installation art project delve into the captivating story of contemporary overseas Filipino workers (OFW), whom the artists view as courageous warriors of their families. Thus, the artist draws parallels with the ancient karakoa warriors who fearlessly ventured into unchartered territories. Through the ingenious use of recycled packaging materials, they symbolize the modern comforts and heartfelt pasalubong (souvenirs) brought by OFW’s from afar.

Karakoa Journeys: From Past to Present serves as a celebration of resilience, strength, perseverance, and triumphs of Filipino migrant workers. It poignantly portrays their sacrifices as they left their families behind in pursuit of better future and forge new connections in foreign lands. Although, their journeys differ from ancient karakoa warriors, their purpose remains the similar: to conquer not only hunger, but also achieve economic stability for their love ones.
By highlighting the parallel narratives of the past and present, we honor the enduring spirit of the karakoa warriors, and recognize the courage of today’s OFWs. Their unwavering determination to selflessly uplift the lives of their love ones echoes the indomitable spirit of their ancestors. Through this installation art project, the artist aim to evoke empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the modern-day overseas Filipino warriors.  
This exhibition/ art installation is part of the 2023 Nakanojo Biennale, in Gunma, Japan which runs from Sept 09, to October 09, 2023.
Click here to learn more about the Nakanojo Biennale
Picture

​Artist Statement

"Penetrating the obscurities of quotidian life and its articulation requires a clear view of the present condition. Hence, through fieldwork, the lay ethnographer becomes an observer and applies the method of cultural immersion to have a visceral experience of the world. With this visceral experience of the world, the artist can have a magnified view of the world. From brushing our teeth to making love, it is no secret that we can experience or understand it a bit more through closer inspection. Hence, art for me becomes like a magnifying lens that helps us to be more aware of what is right under our nose, which consequently leads us to reflect our actions.
An artist that highlights specific sentiments for participant/audience to understand their own political consciousness, that move out of the center simply to observe or facilitate, and sincerely invites the public into dialogue is democratic. Dialogue is deeply beautiful, as it is shareable, direct, and honestly truthful.  It makes us feel or experience the real. Hence in my art, connecting with another human being is more important than the objects and/or situations I construct as it may open up our understanding of the world a little bit more."
Recent Work
Picture
Mervy Pueblo, Coming Home. Installation: Barong fabric and discarded foil packs and plastics. Area: 200 square meters.
Site: Gotanda Community Center, Nakanojo, Gunma, Japan
*Representative work for the 7th Nakanojo Biennale (2019)

VIEW THE PORTFOLIO
International Participatory Project

The Cabinet of Disappointments:
Malaysia 2016

Picture

What's up?

The things on plate this 2023:
upcoming exhibitions, visual art research or studio work, and international trips, etc.
NOV 2023
SEPT-OCT 2023
JUL-AUG 2023
A solo exhibition
at Galeria Duemila
Participation to the 2023 Nakanojo Biennale, Gunma, Japan
Artist in residence at
​Nakanojo, Gunma, Japan
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Portfolio
    • Art-like-Art
    • Life-like-Art
    • New Genre Public Art
  • About
  • News
  • Contact