Portia (Maria Portia Olenka C. Placino, b. 1984) is an arts writer and educator based in Manila, Philippines. She received the Ateneo Art Awards—Purita Kalaw Ledesma Prize for Art Criticism in 2021. Her recent projects contemplate the position and influence of contemporary art and new media in an embattled and oppressed society. She continually attempts to create critical and discursive spaces about regional art practices across the Philippines.
LinkedIn, Academia, contact@portiaplacino.com
Features
“Imelda Cajipe Endaya: The History is Female (cover feature),” ArtAsiaPacific, May 1, 2023.
“Reimagining Sugilanon: Negros’ Legends as Told Through Art,” Spot.ph, May 1, 2023.
“Orange Project and Art District: Creating Bacolod City’s Contemporary Art Hub,” Spot.ph, March 25, 2023.
“Beyond the Kiping: Project Space Pilipinas Makes Space for Contemporary Art in Lucban,” Spot.ph, January 15, 2023.
“Nunelucio Alvarado: Sugar and Salt of Life,” ArtAsiaPacific, July-August 2022.
“Kidlat Tahimik: History Through the Bamboo Camera,” ArtAsiaPacific, March-April 2022.
“Forging on by the Mountainside,” Vitalpoints, Purita Kalaw Ledesma Foundation, 2021.
Profiles
“Looking Into Bacolod Artist Brandon Braza’s Persistence of Practice,” Spot.ph, April 16, 2023.
“Artist Faye Abantao Dwells on Collective and Personal Memories,” Spot.ph, February 12, 2023.
“Kiri Dalena: Confronting Narratives,” ArtAsiaPacific, September-October 2022.
“Legacies of Dissent: Leslie de Chavez,” ArtAsiaPacific, November-December 2021.
Reviews
“Coconut, Copra, and Heritage Take the Spotlight at This Art Exhibit,” Spot.ph, March 12, 2023.
“On the Environment, Magic, and Politics of Art Residencies Across Regions,” Spot.ph, February 26, 2023.
“Manila: Pio Abad,” ArtAsiaPacific, July-August 2022.
“Exhibition Review: ‘Crackling for a Piece of the Moon’ and ‘Pro-Forma,’” ARTSG, May 30, 2022.
“Manila: Cast But One Shadow,” ArtAsiaPacific, March-April 2022.
Exhibition Notes
“Ziggurat,” exhibition note, Kaida Contemporary, 2018.
“Paglantaw,” exhibition note, Vargas Museum, 2014.
“Concurrence,” exhibition note, West Gallery and Project Space Pilipinas, 2014.
Books and Journals
“Manix Abrera,” Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (Visual Art), 2nd ed. vol. 5, 2017.
“Mideo Cruz,” Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (Visual Art), 2nd ed. vol. 5, 2017.
Portia Placino and Eileen Ramirez, “Poleteismo,” Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (Visual Art), 2nd ed. vol. 5, 2017.
“Korean Contemporary: Continuing Process and Discourse, Articulation of Silences,” Conference Proceeding, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, 2016.
“Contemporary Art Publics: Mapping Philippine Contemporary, Media, Technology and Publics,” Journal of Global Studies and Contemporary Art (REG/AC), Art Globalization Interculturality – University of Barcelona, 2015.
“Spilling into the Public: Poleteismo and Contemporary Art Discourse,” Plaridel, College of Mass Communications, University of the Philippines, Diliman, 2012.
“Contemporaneity and Institution: Poleteismo Controversy in the Philippine Museum,” Museum 2012: The Socially Purposeful Museum Conference Proceeding, National Taipei University of Education, University of Leicester’s Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, National Museums Liverpool, National Museum of History, Taipei, 2012.
Portia Placino 