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SINGAPORE GALLERY FEATURES TALES ON BAGUIO AND CORDILLERAN ART SCENE THROUGH EXHIBITION, BOOK, AND FILM

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PRESS RELEASE | PR-122-2024

16 October 2024, Singapore – In a stirring celebration of heritage, creativity, and shared stories, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore proudly joined the opening of Tiw-Tiwong: Tales & Turns in the Art of Baguio and the Cordilleras at Gajah Gallery on 11 October 2024.

Co-curated by Singapore’s Joyce Toh and Baguio-born artist Kawayan de Guia, Tiw-Tiwong brings together an inspiring roster of artists who capture the essence of Cordilleran life. The lineup includes renowned creators like Carlo Villafuerte, Nona Garcia, Kabunyan de Guia, Gail Vicente, Leonard Aguinaldo, and Patricia Perez Eustaquio, alongside National Artists such as National Artists Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera and Kidlat Tahimik —some of whom were present at the launch.

Gajah Gallery’s enduring collaboration with Filipino artists has showcased the richness of the Philippines’ creative landscape to an international audience. As a longtime partner of the Philippine Embassy’s annual Art Trek, the gallery continues to provide a platform for Filipino talent, strengthening the artistic bond between the two communities.

Alongside the exhibition opening, Gajah Gallery launched Tiw-Tiwong: An Uncyclopedia to Life, Living, and Art in Baguio, the Cordilleras, and Beyond—an eclectic, multi-voiced art book that explores the stories, memories, and philosophies shaping Baguio’s art scene. In February 2018, Baguio earned recognition as part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network for Crafts and Folk Art, joining 64 cities from 44 countries with this prestigious designation.

The exhibit opening and book launch on Friday was followed by an Artist & Writers’ Roundtable and a Short Film Screening entitled Telling the Tale of Baguio & the Cordilleras: An Uncyclopedia Comes Into Being on Saturday, 12 October. The next day, on Sunday, 13 October, Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film hosted a screening of Perfumed Nightmare, a semi-autobiographical fable by indie filmmaker and artist Kidlat Tahimik, accompanied by an artist talk. Affectionately known as the “Father of Philippine Independent Cinema,” Kidlat Tahimik (whose name translates to “silent lightning”) embodies a spirit of playful resistance, using art to challenge conventions and explore indigenous identity and storytelling.

This significant event coincides with the Philippines’ observance of Museums and Art Galleries Month (MGM) 2024, themed “Honoring Traditions, Fostering Innovation.” Celebrated every October under Proclamation No. 798 series of 1991, MGM encourages Filipinos and the global community to explore the richness of Philippine culture, heritage, and national identity through art.

Tiw-Tiwong runs at Gajah Gallery’s third-floor space in Tanjong Pagar Distripark until 11 November 2024, inviting both Singaporean and Filipino audiences to discover the artistry that defines the Cordilleras. Beyond the exhibit, the public can explore the Tiw-Tiwong art book, which is available in Singapore through NUS Press, offering an enduring connection to the stories shared in the gallery.

For more details, visit https://gajahgallery.com/exhibition/tiw-tiwong-tales-turns-in-the-art-of-baguio-and-the-cordilleras/.

Through this exhibition, the Philippine Embassy reaffirms its commitment to fostering cultural exchange and sharing the richness of Filipino heritage through creativity with the global community—bridging nations through art, storytelling, and shared histories.



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