Ames Yavuz is honoured to present In the Event There is An Image: Realism and the Everyday, a group exhibition of nine distinguished Filipino artists including: Raena Abella, Pope Bacay, Jan Balquin, Annie Cabigting, Nona Garcia, Ayka Go, Gregory Halili, Nilo Ilarde and José Santos III. The show endeavours to advance the tradition of realism in the arts coming from the region. Showing a wide range of approaches and artistic concerns, the resulting ensemble presentation illuminates a mixture of possibilities in deciphering what is real.
Stemmed from the social realism movement that emerged in the late 1970s, art movement has since been a powerful and enduring tool that reflects the socio-political landscape of post-colonial Philippines and has further developed during periods of struggle, resistance, and social injustice.
Since the early 20th century, Filipino social realist artists have often depicted the harsh realities of everyday life, including poverty, oppression, exploitation, and marginalization. Their artistic styles encompass a diverse range; from figurative and representational to more abstract and symbolic. Integral to modern-day Filipino art are these nine practitioners that play a critical role in raising awareness, provoking critical thoughts and mobilizing collective action.
In his accompanying essay, notable arts writer and curator Cocoy Lumbao Jr. considers “the countless ways reality can either be perceived or consumed, the challenge has always been, since ancient times, how to interpret it. And since then, it has become an invaluable preoccupation for humanity where art, philosophy, and ideology can all merge together.”