Excerpt from ART SG. Read more here. The Drawing Room recently opened two solo exhibitions reflecting on aspects of Filipino existence: Mark Salvatus’s ‘Crackling for a Piece of the Moon’ and Christina Lopez’s ‘Pro Forma’. Salvatus uses a topographical point of view to survey land and space, from his early life in the province to... Continue Reading →
Kidlat Tahimik: History Through the Bamboo Camera (Published in ArtAsiaPacific)
Excerpt from AAP Issue 127. Read more here. Conversing with Kidlat Tahimik was as surreal as watching his movies. His narratives unfold in different layers, steadily unraveling stories and perspectives, giving insight into his practice and the world he examines. He described his film practice and aversion to scripts, shared his life story and how... Continue Reading →
Manila: Cast But One Shadow (Published in ArtAsiaPacific)
Excerpt from AAP Issue 127. Read more here. “Cast But One Shadow: Afro-Southeast Asian Affinities” was a densely researched exhibition. It was the Manila iteration of curators Carlos Quijon Jr. and Kathleen Ditzig’s ongoing project reviewing global solidarities from a Southeast Asian positionality, which began in Singapore with the show “In Our Best Interests: Afro-Southeast... Continue Reading →
Leslie de Chavez: Legacies of Dissent (Published in ArtAsiaPacific)
Excerpt from AAP Issue 126. Read more here. “Considering the long history of these seemingly chronic conditions that we are in, it is of utmost importance that we create art that exemplifies sensitivity to the struggles, heartaches, aspiration, and dreams of our fellowmen.” Conversations like these with Leslie de Chavez are often enlightening. He navigates... Continue Reading →
Day 7, A conversation between two paintings
My students are always fascinated when I point out that Juan Luna’s Spoliarium isn’t his only work, nor academic painting his only style. Two examples currently hang in the Vargas Museum, right inside campus. One is a study of The Trial of Galileo and the other is Picnic in Normandy. If these two painting could talk,... Continue Reading →
Day 2: A Room with a View, Remembering Gustave Courbet’s The Painter’s Studio
I walked around in a cold, darkened room, and there it was—Gustave Courbet’s The Painter’s Studio. I stood in awe for a moment, taking it in. I walked near it to see the details of the paint. I moved back so I can see its entirety once I again. I sat down on the bench... Continue Reading →
Concurrence at West Gallery
Well, this is my first writing project of the year (outside of the 2013 backlogs). Aside from that, this is also a first for me to create an exhibition note for a gallery exhibition. Thanks to Leslie de Chavez for providing this great learning moment. It was fun working with him and meeting a number... Continue Reading →
Reflections on Former West Propositions
Former west brown bag from Portia Placino The Former West Congress: Documents, Constellations, and Prospects was participated in by around 150 students form all over the world. The levels of engagement in the Congress differed from the particular research focus and interests of the participants. The Learning Place, as programmed by Boris Buden, was focused... Continue Reading →
Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase
I stumbled into this interesting piece as I was looking for new movies to watch. Since The Artist was such a success, I decided to look for more Academy Award winning films. Watching Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase is a revelation. Youtube people are calling this a 7-minute Art History lesson, specifically, I think this is a 7-minute... Continue Reading →
Portia Placino 