The Ateneo Art Gallery has recently opened its doors to a significant exhibition, Orion in Sight: A View of Collective Work, showcasing the work of seven artist-led collectives that have been active in the Philippines for over two decades. TalaAnyo, a gathering of these seven collectives, emerged in 2023 and has been working together to promote socially engaged art and muralism in the country.
The exhibition, which is on view until October 18, features the work of seven artist-founders and their respective collectives: Agos Studio, Eskinita Art Farm, Linangan Art Residency, Orange Project, Pasilyo Press, Project Space Pilipinas, and Tungtung Alon Art Foundation. The artists have come together to create a collaborative response to the crisis in the country, affirming the responsibility of the artist as a critical voice.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is Habang Tanaw (2026), a monumental painting by the seven founding artists that encapsulates Philippine social realist muralism in seven panels. The painting depicts movements of resistance across the country's history, with bloodshed marking the clash of protesters and global powers, and technology shown as a weapon that numbs and blinds the people.
The exhibition is a result of a huge undertaking by the curator, Lisa Ito-Tapang, who had to give a lot of thought to how to present key works from all seven initiatives throughout their collective history. The result is a well-rounded presentation of collaborative and community-engaged works by both the initiatives and their founders, as well as selected material from earlier artist collectives that paved the way for TalaAnyo.
The exhibition is cognizant of the potency of art as vehicles of expression, critical thinking, and change. It showcases a variety of forms, including murals, prints, and sculptures, which were products of the artists' efforts to pass on creative knowledge to rural communities. Visitors will also see a series of public programs co-organized with the Ateneo Art Gallery, including artist talks, workshops, and activities, reflecting TalaAnyo's approach to collective practice and community engagement.
The title of the exhibition, Orion in Sight, is inspired by the indigenous imagination of the constellation Orion, which is known as Balatik. Like TalaAnyo's seven initiatives, it is a formation comprised of many stars, all contributing to the whole constellation. The exhibition covers the past 50 years, from Martial Law to the People Power movement to Duterte's drug war, and showcases a clear pulse on movements led by artists across history.
The exhibition is a testament to the power of collective work and community engagement in promoting social change. It highlights the importance of art education and history in the country and showcases the solidarity that TalaAnyo's individual founders represent. In a time when access to art education and history is being erased, what can the solidarity they represent achieve if it is cascaded on larger scales?
Orion in Sight: A View of Collective Work is on view until October 18 at the third floor of Ateneo Art Gallery in Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City.
