Pamilya - May 1st, 1898, in remembrance of the period of American colonization of the Philippines which began on this day; May 1st, 1934, in observance of the Philippine Independence Act which took effect on this day
2022 | MSU Broad Art Museum | USA
Based on the word “family” in Tagalog, Pamilya speaks to the experience of sharing stories, histories, and even a meal among loved ones across great distances. The artist recorded interviews with her family members in the Philippines and California. Their voices, a projected video of homecooked dishes, and memories of time spent together animate an otherwise vacant table. This iteration titled Pamilya - May 1st, 1898, in remembrance of the period of American colonization of the Philippines which began on this day; May 1st, 1934, in observance of the Philippine Independence Act which took effect on this day imagines a future in which people around the world would try to be more Filipino, as opposed to being more Westernized.
Materials: Resin, paper pulp, paper clay, video projection, printed image, wood, LED, and sound equipment
Dimensions: 3 ft x 10 ft x 3 ft
Date: 2022
Videographers: Flint Bayanito and Nicolei Buendia Gupit
Exhibited in: MSU Broad Art Museum
“‘She’s my mom, and she’s also my dad… I learned everything from my Nanay Dela.’ Members of a Filipino family reminisce over their late matriarch, Fidela ‘Nanay Dela’ Raqueño Gregorio, as they share a meal together. We hear their conversation wash over a tableau of their dinner: paper that has printed and cut out to mimic banana leaves cover a table, and spilling over it is a massive spread of Jufran banana ketchup and soy sauce, dragon fruit and jackfruit, empanadas and lumpia, a lucky cat statue, and a small Mother Mary. These objects have been cast in resin and paper clay and are garishly painted in a bright neon, the same shade as a cinematic green screen. Five white paper clay plates are set at the table, and projected over each plate is video footage of a different Filipino dish— iconic dishes from kare-kare to adobo— diminishing over time as it is eaten; hands and forks appear in the frame, as evidence of a meal enjoyed. It is a spectacular, beautiful rendition of a mundane dinner, preserving a fleeting moment of connection forever….and yet.” — Thea Quiray Tagle