IA#8 Museum Visit 3 (MCAD Manila)

IA#8 Museum Visit 3 (MCAD Manila)

Museum of Contemporary Art and Design De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Dominga St. Malate, 1004 Manila

Soil and Stones, Soul and Songs.

This is the title of the exhibit. The exhibit started last September 6,2016 and According to them, it will run until December 4,2016. The Title alone is not just catchy but is deep and interesting. When I heard the title of the exhibit it makes me think of one thing that has been transformed to a something. Transformed into a reason and purpose and not just ordinary but extraordinary.

In our last class in Aesthetics, our professor told us that every art piece has a meaning. The meaning depends on who will interpret it and not because the artist say so. It was a great relief for me. Why? I thought I am really that weird to see a different meaning in an art form and yet the people around me can’t see what I see. They would often say, that’s deep or they will disagree.

Below will be some photos for certain category that I have chosen. You may not see what I see, what is important is that, we can see and we can appreciate.

GLORIFYING FOOD

Food : Mango Skin.

I didn’t choose this because it is obviously a fruit and is edible. I chose this because it gave the fruit, which is Mango, justice. Mango is one of my favorite fruits. I still remember my grandma will buy a lot of Mangoes and store it in a place so it won’t get rotten easily. It looks like a veil to me. Seeing this, makes me feel and think that this certain fruit is being glorified. Perhaps, If this has been made in the old age or first few years of our ancestors, they might worship this piece as well.

SHELTER

Three different Photos, different interpretation, different artists and yet I chose these three photos and grouped it into the category of Shelter. On the First Photo, all you can see is wood. Chopped wood. Some may have a deeper interpretation about this art form but as for me, I see this as a necessity for building structures. Even before big buildings were built, wood and leaves are became the shelter of the early people. Thanks to the wood that if we may have no money, (though it may be illegal) wherever we may be, as long as there is wood, we will be able to do a lot of things. We can build a small house or shelter, we can build a fireplace or somewhere we can cook, we can also create a weapon for hunting or for protection. Over all, that is shelter for me. Shelter for me is like a security blanket that you will feel calmer, braver and fulfilled once you have it with you.

On the Second Photo is like a collaboration of the Philippine Society. Oh yes, Most will see this as a part of the society and history and yet for me, as I see is Shelter. Shelter for the Filipino People. It is the Philippines. There are carabaos, structure of early people, Jose Rizal-Hero, rope, ladder, and many more. When I see the certain art form, it suddenly built a confidence in me that made me feel safe. The collaboration for me formed the basics of the shelter in the Philippines. You can see there is also a photo of houses, which reminds me when most of us were young, we tend to draw straw houses with rice fields. As for me, I see this as one of the best photos for Shelter. It reflects the shelter of the Philippines of the Philippines being a shelter to its men.

The third photo though is like a form of Architecture. I can see there are two independent tooth and above those is a roof. A roof makes a shelter as we all know. It makes me think of a very strong foundation, since our teeth is very strong, that is why we use it for biting and eating. In addition to that there is a gold like structure. To tell you honestly, It is more of a temple to me however, since in temples, some may find security and shelter as well. I remember my cousins and I went to a certain temple in Thailand. I forgot the name of the temple but it was really memorable to me because there was a part of the temple that has real gems and gold. According to the citizens there, we must touch it and wish since it will give us good luck especially financially.

PROMISE OF FERTILITY

All Filipinos know that the person painted above is the wife of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. During her time, she was the epitome of beauty. Beauty reflects a woman. Beauty is perfection. Beauty is everything. Imelda Marcos was able to portray those description. In this photo, she was ‘Maganda’. She was wearing white which definitely signifies purity and as for me it could be fertility as well. She looks like the fairy God mother that women wanting to have kids pray for. She is like a promise and a goddess of beauty and fertility. With her hair perfectly flip, and her dress sways as if she was dancing or she turned around because she heard someone call her name. The painting for me shows a different kind of commitment, promise for all women. Hail to all women for all women are beautiful.

THE STATE

I have no idea what is the purpose of the artist in drawing this photo. As for me, it is more of a protest. Seeing this art piece hurt me as a Filipino. One of our Major issues right now as well is the Spratlys Island where in China is claiming it is their land. I felt that China is the person who is sitting on a broken tree, holding the map. He is holding the map as if he doesn’t care where the Island is nearer. He is showing that he is more powerful than the Map and it is his to the point that even if the boar who lives in the Island is being stepped on by the man. I felt that we are the boar and we are being stepped down by them, the Chinese people.

RELIGION

Illuminati. First word that came in to my mind when I saw this art form. No, I don’t worship any idol (statues) but I believe that there is one God. One God who also created Lucifer, the fallen Angel. Most Illuminati worship goats or ram. This made me capture this art form into Religion. Religion is what you hold on to, is the motivation why you do what you do and how you do what you do. I am nobody to say that one religion is better than the other. We are all people, we are all human beings, imperfect. We need a higher being, or someone powerful that we will believe in, we need something and or someone to worship, it may be a cow, a horse, a wood or even a feather.

SELF AND SOCIETY : RACE GENDER CLASS AND CLAN

Enough Said. This art form states it all. From race, gender, class, and clan. Can’t describe or explain more. This is the best so far that I have seen which has covered a lot of aspects especially all the major issues here on earth.

Overall, I really can’t explain and understand why I am always overwhelmed whenever I visit a certain exhibit and museum. It always makes me feel emotional. It drains my energy seeing and feeling all of the art forms each artist has created.

Truly, each is unique. Everything is art. Anything is art and everything can be transformed. We all die in the end but life is a continuous process and subject, which means that we may all die but art will still remain as art. It will always be transformed, there will always be innovation that you won’t ever get bored. Creativity will always re-live. I am proud to be a Lasallian/Benildean. I may not be from SDA or any art related course but I felt like I’m a someone whenever I see photos, art form and tries to figure out each meaning they manifest.

Let me encourage you to come and visit the exhibit, stated above is that they will hold this until the 4th of December this year, 2016. They open from Tuesdays-Sundays at 10 am to 6PM.