"WASAK! Reloaded", installation view at ARNDT Fine Art, Singapore "WASAK! Reloaded", installation view at ARNDT Fine Art, Singapore

WASAK! Reloaded

Group Exhibition of Filipino Art Today

27 August - 8 October 2016

Opening | Saturday | August 27, 2016, 12 - 5 pm | ARNDT Fine Art, Singapore 

WASAK! Reloaded  is a group exhibition exploring the Filipino contemporary art landscape and is accompanied by a major hard copy publication WASAK! Filipino Art Today published by European publisher DISTANZ Verlag. The show is a continuation of the well-received group exhibition presented in Berlin in 2015, and will travel to Gazelli Art House in London in 2017.

Exhibiting artists include: Zean Cabangis, Louie Cordero, Jigger Cruz, Marina Cruz, Kawayan De Guia, Alfredo Esquillo, Ian Fabro, Robert Langenegger, Jason Montinola, Pow Martinez, Manuel Ocampo, Norberto Roldan, Kaloy Sanchez, Rodel Tapaya and Ronald Ventura.

The underlying motivation of WASAK! and its accompanying publication is to shed light on the fascinating contemporary art currently being produced in the Philippines. By offering an overview of Filipino contemporary art, WASAK!  aims to provide an emblematic contextual compendium. Uniting a selection of leading protagonists across generational lines, genres, and media, the exhibition presents snapshots of current artistic practices from the Philippines.

The 17 participating artists have witnessed the social and political upheaval of Philippines’ recent history. Most of these artists spent their maturation grappling with local events that have transpired such as: natural disasters like earthquakes and floods; political unrest in the form of coup d’état and calls to presidential impeachments; political ineptitude in the form of corruption and briberies; and longstanding bouts with poverty and urban overpopulation. This selection of artists have nurtured, or at least, directed their ideas into the reality that is Manila, the nation’s capital, from where most of the country’s bizarre undulations spring.

Although much of the artists´ work is inspired by their own localities, these artists continue to seek their place among the rest of the world. Through the jumble and mess of their own ground zero—which is a country of broken histories, a nation of lush influences, and a people constantly having to live despite of something—their art continued to become, individually, more diverse and yet collectively, as a single exploded view. ‘Wasak’ is a Filipino word that means “in ruins.” When used in the vernacular, it means “wrecked,” or as a more encouraging interjection—it can also mean “going for broke.” It is a term that signals a hazard.

In this field of scattered landscapes, of broken narratives and loose continuity, what then could be ascribed as Philippine Art? The artists represented in WASAK! have come from the different potholes this gap has created, which explains the varying degrees how their work tries to explain not only a locality, but their own place in art history.

The 17 artists covered in WASAK! provide us with an opportunity to experience the different directions they have wandered into—a chance to view a small course of history that is finding its way into the arts.

Press Contact:
Pey Chuan Tan
peychuan@arndtfineart.com
+65 9111 3203

Venue:
ARNDT Fine Art Pte Ltd
Gillman Barracks
47 Malan Road #01-25
Singapore 109444
Tel. +65 67340775
Opening hours: Tues - Sat 11am- 7pm, and by appointment

Press:
Blouin ARTINFO | Filipino Artists Present "WASAK! Reloaded" at ARNDT Fine Art | July 21, 2016

Blouin Art Info | Filipino Artists Present ‘WASAK! Reloaded’ at ARNDT Fine Art | July 21, 2016

 

Jigger Cruz, Untitled, 2016, Oil on canvas, 122 x 122 cm Jigger Cruz, Untitled, 2016, Oil on canvas, 122 x 122 cm Marina Cruz, Automatic Buttons on Spring Red Shirt, 2016, oil on canvas , 122 × 92 cm, MCRU0005 Marina Cruz, Automatic Buttons on Spring Red Shirt, 2016, oil on canvas , 122 × 92 cm, MCRU0005 Rodel Tapaya, The Origin of Laughter, 2016, Acrylic on canvas , 183 × 102 cm , TAPA0131 Rodel Tapaya, The Origin of Laughter, 2016, Acrylic on canvas , 183 × 102 cm , TAPA0131 Manuel Ocampo, Lickspittle, 2016, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 160 × 130 cm, OCAM0004 Manuel Ocampo, Lickspittle, 2016, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 160 × 130 cm, OCAM0004 Robert Langenegger, Before Gay Marriage, 2016, oil on canvas,  76 × 92 cm, LANG0003 Robert Langenegger, Before Gay Marriage, 2016, oil on canvas, 76 × 92 cm, LANG0003 Kawayan De Guia, And it's always better sweet, 2016, Mixed media, 164 × 133 × 7 cm, GUIA0006 Kawayan De Guia, And it's always better sweet, 2016, Mixed media, 164 × 133 × 7 cm, GUIA0006 Robert Langenegger, Dont Trust the Locals , 2016, oil on canvas, 152,4 × 182,88 cm, LANG0002 Robert Langenegger, Dont Trust the Locals , 2016, oil on canvas, 152,4 × 182,88 cm, LANG0002 Norberto Roldan, Hex, 2015, Salvaged 17th century wooden statue of Archangel Raphael and other architectural debris from a typhoon damaged church from Southern Philippines, 18th century Catholic vestment newly hand-embroidered with Philippine millenarian symbols and prayers, metal amulet, vintage damask fabric, beeswax and lighting fixture on panel,  183 x 122 cm each panel / 183 x 244 cm, diptych, ROLD0011 Norberto Roldan, Hex, 2015, Salvaged 17th century wooden statue of Archangel Raphael and other architectural debris from a typhoon damaged church from Southern Philippines, 18th century Catholic vestment newly hand-embroidered with Philippine millenarian symbols and prayers, metal amulet, vintage damask fabric, beeswax and lighting fixture on panel, 183 x 122 cm each panel / 183 x 244 cm, diptych, ROLD0011 Louie Cordero, Pattern for Life's Never Ending Search for utopia, 2014, Automotive paint, fiberglass, 228 × 183 cm, CORD0001 Louie Cordero, Pattern for Life's Never Ending Search for utopia, 2014, Automotive paint, fiberglass, 228 × 183 cm, CORD0001 Kawayan De Guia, Dog Days, 2016, Mixed media, 164 × 133 × 7 cm, GUIA0007 Kawayan De Guia, Dog Days, 2016, Mixed media, 164 × 133 × 7 cm, GUIA0007 Ian Fabro, Will i turn too into a pillar of salt?, 2015, Mixed media on paper, 213 × 91 cm, FABR0004 Ian Fabro, Will i turn too into a pillar of salt?, 2015, Mixed media on paper, 213 × 91 cm, FABR0004 Ronald Ventura, Manstar, 2013-2015, oil on canvas, Painting: 213 × 152 cm, Overall dimensions: 280 x 216 cm (framed in unique cast resin artist frame), VENT0001 Ronald Ventura, Manstar, 2013-2015, oil on canvas, Painting: 213 × 152 cm, Overall dimensions: 280 x 216 cm (framed in unique cast resin artist frame), VENT0001 2015, The cold Earth slept below, above the cold sky shone, Mixed media on paper, 213 × 91 cm, FABR0003 2015, The cold Earth slept below, above the cold sky shone, Mixed media on paper, 213 × 91 cm, FABR0003 Jason Montinola, Guide, 2016,  oil on canvas, 122 × 92 cm, MONT0002 Jason Montinola, Guide, 2016, oil on canvas, 122 × 92 cm, MONT0002 Ian Fabro, The Words where nicks so light, Mosquito Bites were war, 2015  , Mixed media on paper, 213 × 91 cm, FABR0002 Ian Fabro, The Words where nicks so light, Mosquito Bites were war, 2015 , Mixed media on paper, 213 × 91 cm, FABR0002 Pow Martinez, Manila's Finest, 2016, oil on canvas, 76 × 61 cm, MART0009 Pow Martinez, Manila's Finest, 2016, oil on canvas, 76 × 61 cm, MART0009 Zean Cabangis, This Moment Will Never Change, 2016, Mixed media, 152.4 x 152.4 cm Zean Cabangis, This Moment Will Never Change, 2016, Mixed media, 152.4 x 152.4 cm Jigger Cruz, Metaphorical Suffocation, 2014, Oil painting and resin, 176 x 140 x 78 cm Jigger Cruz, Metaphorical Suffocation, 2014, Oil painting and resin, 176 x 140 x 78 cm Alfredo Esquillo, Empire, Lost and Found, 2015, Fiberglass reinforced resin, metal, wood, 2 works 305 x 81 x 170 cm / 1 work 223,5 x 76,6 x 170 cm, ESQU0011 Alfredo Esquillo, Empire, Lost and Found, 2015, Fiberglass reinforced resin, metal, wood, 2 works 305 x 81 x 170 cm / 1 work 223,5 x 76,6 x 170 cm, ESQU0011 Alfredo Esquillo, Prey Catching Prey, 2015, 116 x 167 cm, each panel, framed / 116 x 501 cm, overall, framed. Brown box frame with acrylic glass, 111,76 x 487,68 cm, triptych , ESQU0005 Alfredo Esquillo, Prey Catching Prey, 2015, 116 x 167 cm, each panel, framed / 116 x 501 cm, overall, framed. Brown box frame with acrylic glass, 111,76 x 487,68 cm, triptych , ESQU0005 Alfredo Esquillo, The Colony, 2016, Oil on canvas, 152 x 61 x 3 cm (Triptych) Alfredo Esquillo, The Colony, 2016, Oil on canvas, 152 x 61 x 3 cm (Triptych) Jason Montinola, Full Gospel, 2016, Oil on canvas, 122 x 92 cm Jason Montinola, Full Gospel, 2016, Oil on canvas, 122 x 92 cm Norberto Roldan, Viper, 2015, Oil and acrylic on canvas, Diptych 91 x 364 cm | 35 x 143 in, ROLD0006 Norberto Roldan, Viper, 2015, Oil and acrylic on canvas, Diptych 91 x 364 cm | 35 x 143 in, ROLD0006 Norberto Roldan, Rebel, Mixed media wall assemblage: vintage priest’s chasuble with embroidery work, lace fabric, wooden santo sculpture, metal amulet and lighting fixture on panel Diptych, 182.88 x 243.84 cm | 72 x 96 in, ROLD0004 Norberto Roldan, Rebel, Mixed media wall assemblage: vintage priest’s chasuble with embroidery work, lace fabric, wooden santo sculpture, metal amulet and lighting fixture on panel Diptych, 182.88 x 243.84 cm | 72 x 96 in, ROLD0004 Kaloy Sanchez, Melancholia, 2016, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 121.92 x 91.44 cm Kaloy Sanchez, Melancholia, 2016, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 121.92 x 91.44 cm