The latest exhibition, “Parallel Histories: Moving Image from the Philippines and the United Kingdom,” is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M).
It takes you on a retrospective journey featuring iconic works by Filipino and British filmmakers that capture and respond to the profound changes of their respective times. The exhibit highlights the parallel experiences shared between these two parts of the world.
Participating artists include:
- Poklong Anading
- George Barber
- Bea Camacho
- Nick Deocampo
- Tad Ermitaño
- Rachel Lowe
- Grace Ndiritu
- Margaret Salmon
- Angel Velasco Shaw
- Alia Syed
- Tito & Tita
The exhibition is presented by the British Council to celebrate its 45th anniversary. According to Country Director Lotus Postrado, the exhibit is “a fitting way to celebrate the strong ties between the Philippines and the UK, which is what the British Council is all about.”
“It is in our organisation’s DNA to find new ways of connecting with and understanding each other through arts and culture. And that is exactly what these amazing works enveloped us in, a deeper understanding of our shared experiences,” said Postrado.
Manila-based writer and filmmaker Erwin Romulo, who curated the project, said the inspiration behind Parallel Histories came from watching British filmmaker Rachel Lowe’s “Letter to an Unknown Person No. 5,” which depicted an artist’s hand attempting to draw the landscape outside of a moving vehicle. Romulo was reminded of “Line Drawing” by Filipino artist Poklong Anading, where a camera was fixed on a pencil that wrote a continuous line until it was reduced to a mere stub.
Interestingly, both films were created in the same year. This led Romulo to search for other parallels in a chaotic world, ultimately becoming the theme of Parallel Histories.
“It tells you more about yourself, how you co-existed with everyone else, and about the time and world in which you found yourselves being alive in,” shared Romulo.
The exhibition showcases striking works created by Filipino filmmakers Angel Velasco Shaw, Tad Ermitaño, Poklong Anading, Bea Camacho, and Tito & Tita, as well as British filmmakers Alia Syed, George Barber, Rachel Lowe, Grace Ndiritu, and Margaret Salmon. Viewers will experience a significant moment and realize how similar we are despite our differences.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and LUX.
Catch the exhibit Parallel Histories at the Third Floor South Gallery at the M until January 13, 2024. Learn more at https://metmuseum.ph/parallelhistories.
Leave a comment