Baguio Artist Kidlat Tahimik launched his much-awaited art exhibit in Reina Sofia ‘s Palacio de Cristal in Madrid, Spain on October 28 as part of the 500th anniversary of Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines.
The exhibit, “Magellan, Marilyn, Mickey y Fray Damaso. 500 años de Conquistadores RockStars” is open to the
public for free. The exhibit area is located on the same place where indigenous people like the Igorots of the Philippines were exhibited in 1887. This is where Jose Rizal made his famous remarks on the nature of the exhibit where his countrymen were exhibited like animals.
Tahimik has been vocal about his views where history has been in favor of the conquerors. “It’s about time we show them our side of history,” he said.
His exhibit consists of large-sized sculptures, paintings and multi-media installation depicting the arrival of Magellan and his eventual defeat in the Philippines. Other figures in the show were characters in Jose Rizal’s novel El
Filibusterismo and Noli me Tangere like Padre Damaso depicting the abuses of the Spanish regime during their rule in the Philippines and the fight of the Filipino people to suppress them.
It also contains cultural images from the Cordillera where he depicted the power of local culture against the revisionist culture brought by the storm that is Hollywood. He emphasized the importance of local culture that he called Indio-genius practices.
The exhibit will run until March 6, 2022. Images are courtesy of Philippine Embassy in Madrid. – Carl Taawan
