The De Suantio Gallery at the SMU School of Economics/School of Social Sciences was infused with a touch of Filipino hospitality and class when a group of Filipino artists who live and work in Singapore came together to hold an art exhibition on 2-16 September 2016.

The exhibition was part of the Philippine Art Trek, an annual showcase of Philippine art which is into its 10th year and organised by the Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore. The exhibition featured 31 works and mostly paintings by 19 members of SininGapor, a loose collective of Singapore-based Filipino artists. The group's name is a mash-up of the Tagalog word "sining", which means "art", and "gapor", a colloquial term that Filipinos use to refer to Singapore.  

Titled “Bagahe: Art as Remittance” (“Bagahe” in short), the collection featured many works incorporating motifs of travel and remittance, as well as the idea of emotional baggage. It attempts to narrate a visual art story of the Filipino diaspora by giving voice to the migrant experience.

On 2 September 2016, about 80 art enthusiasts including diplomats, industry partners, as well as members of the SMU community gathered at the De Suantio Gallery to attend the symbolic opening of the Art Trek with the launching of the “Bagahe” exhibition.  It was an especially noteworthy occasion that was graced by Chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr, Chairman and Commissioner for the Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which also marked the Art Trek’s return to SMU after a decade.

Officials and personnel of the Philippine Embassy decked out in traditional Filipino outfits to mark the special occasion.

Expressing his admiration for the artists, SMU Vice President (Corporate Communications and Marketing) Mr Alan Goh said in his keynote address that these paintings “radiate a deeply humane wisdom and exude immense passion, strength and vitality”. He commended the collection for perfectly capturing “the spontaneous ingenuity, sheer tenacity and unrivalled optimism of the Filipino community”.

Mr Goh also highlighted SMU’s efforts in championing the growth of a vibrant arts sector, which is line with Singapore’s vision to be a distinctive global city for the arts where artistic talents are nurtured. “At SMU, we believe that exposure to art alongside a rigorous education offers a unique learning experience for our students, which in turn helps to develop well-rounded students who are creative, articulate and confident,” he added.

Mr Alan Goh (left) was presented a token of appreciation from Ambassador Antonio Morales.

The guests who attended the event had the rare privilege of meeting the artists up close and personal and they certainly relished the opportunity to hear the artists share their experiences about practising art in Singapore and network with them. The guests were also treated to a delightful cultural performance – two iconic Tagalog songs performed by Mr Mark Canios, a Filipino singer based in Singapore.

Mr Mark Canios serenaded the guests with two Tagalog songs.

NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr delivered a talk entitled “Exploring Philippine Arts in Context” at the launch.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the talk on Philippine Art by Chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr. The talk, entitled "Exploring Philippine Arts in Context", explored the key attributes that define Philippine art, focusing on concepts such as the integration of the arts with other values and functions, as well as the equality of opportunity for participation in the artistic and creative process. Commissioner de Leon touched on the influence of Western culture on Philippine contemporary art and shared his views on the key developments of the Philippine art scene in the last few decades.

SMU community members and guests admiring the paintings during a tour conducted by the artists.

Prior to the launch of the exhibition, six of the artists were invited to the School of Social Sciences (SOSS) for a very exclusive and enriching sharing session at the Arts and Culture Management (ACM) class, taught by Associate Professor Kwok Kian Chow. The ACM class comprises 46 students from SOSS, School of Economics, Lee Kong Chian School of Business, as well as eight international exchange students.

The artists, majority coming from the media and creative industries, shared their insights on a wide range of topics, such as the relation between art, politics and the economy, the joy and challenges of practising art in Singapore, as well as the differences between the Singapore and Philippine art scene. There was never a dull moment as the students kept up a steady stream of intriguing and though-provoking questions in the engaging and lively discussion.

Gillian Ong, a year two SOSS student, said the artists provided some very unique and inspiring perspectives on art. “Given that they are veterans in their respective fields, their views on the global art scene as well as their take on the contrast between the local and Philippine art scene were extremely beneficial for the class,” she added.

Mr Manny Francisco, one of the artists who participated in the sharing session, observed a great interest among the students in editorial art/illustrations and the marketing aspect of art. “It was a very engaging discussion and I think SMU should consider organising more of such talks in the future. Basically the students were really enthusiastic and it felt great to be interacting with inquisitive minds,” he said.

Through the SMU Visual Arts Initiative, SMU will continue to host and develop a wide array of art exhibitions and enrichment programmes, which will no doubt enrich and enliven the University experience of our students as well as add to the vibrancy of diverse art collections available to the larger community.

Associate Prof Kwok Kian Chow (Last row, second from left) and students of the ACM class posing for a group photo with the Filipino artists.

Main photo (From left) SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Antonio Morales and Mr Alan Goh.