Now this is very wasak.
Wasak! Filipino Art Today is an ongoing group exhibit at Arndt Fine Art in Germany’s uber hipster capital Berlin. It opened in early December and it’s on its final two weeks, ending on Jan 30.
Art Radar describes Wasak! Filipino Art Today as an attempt to map “the art of a geographic region distinctive for its splintered nature.”
Arndt, which gives special attention to art from the Asia and the Pacific region, has dedicated both its spaces just for the group exhibit.
Wasak, curated by Norman Crisologo and Erwin Romulo, features 19 artists including Louie Cordero, Zean Cabangis, Annie Cabigting, Kawayan De Guia, Marina Cruz, Manuel Ocampo, Pow Martinez, Ronald Ventura, Rodel Tapaya, among others.
It is something of a sequel. In 2014, Crisologo curated an exhibit in Arndt Singapore, which garnered quite the success. “Wasak continues the task of familiarizing new audiences with the versatility of Filipino Art,” continues Art Radar.
And it seems there’s no better word than “wasak” — which means “in ruins” “wrecked” and “going for broke” — to introduce Filipino art to a new audiences.
Because as Andrew Wagner writes on Artsy.net, “The show uses the phrase as a sort of thesis, offering no single view of Filipino art. Instead, the show asserts the diversity of Filipino artists providing a view into an art scene whose artists are each creating their own distinctive ways of seeing the world.”
Besides, these days, young FIlipinos use the word “wasak” to mean cool. Which is pretty much what Philippine contemporary art is, no?
Until Jan 30. Wasak! Filipino Art Today, Arndt Berlin Potsdamer Strasse 96, 10785 Berlin. Arndt Art Agency A3, Fasanenstrasse 28, 10719, Berlin.
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