“Warm Chongqing, Colorful Philippines” Exhibition adds flair to Spring Festival celebration in China
(Top L-R) Consul General Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo welcomes guests to the “Warm Chongqing, Colorful Philippines: Philippine Arts and Crafts Exhibition on 18 January 2023; DFA-OPCD Assistant Secretary Eduardo Martin A. Meñez congratulates the organizers for contributing to the Department’s cultural diplomacy; (Bottom L-R) Consul General Mayo, local government and private partners jointly announce the opening of the Exhibit; Project partners join selected guests for a group photo.
Chongqing, 18 January 2023 –The Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing launched today an exhibit dubbed “Warm Chongqing, Colorful Philippines: Philippine Arts and Crafts Exhibition” at the 3rd Level, World Financial Center, Yuzhong District, Chongqing. Organized in partnership with the Chongqing International Culture Exchange Center, Yuzhong District Foreign Affairs Office, and Hong Kong VA Galleries, the cultural exhibit features the artworks of fourteen (14) Filipino contemporary artists based in China, Canada and the Philippines as well as selected cultural showpieces.
“Today, we are pleased to take you on a journey through some of our 7,641 islands. Every piece on display has a story to tell and allows a glimpse into the hearts and minds of Filipinos,” Consul General Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo said in her welcome remarks. Referencing the famed 17 doors of ancient Chongqing, Consul General Mayo invited the public to enter a notional 18th portal which she called the Philippines-China Door of Friendship “through which our peoples give and receive good will.” She expressed the hope that the “18th door” will be “perpetually open for us to mutually support endeavors that will bring bilateral ties to a higher gear” as directed by Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and President Xi Jinping in their official meeting at the beginning of 2023.
(Top L-R) Consul General Mayo tells stories behind the Philippine weaves and explains T’boli brass casting traditions (Bottom L-R) Consul General Mayo presents creative shell craft, wood craft, baskets and weaves that revitalize poor communities in the Philippines. Guests were treated to an interactive introduction to the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival.
Assistant Secretary Eduardo Martin R. Meñez of the DFA Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy thanked the exhibit organizers for their cultural diplomacy effort. In his pre-recorded congratulatory message, Assistant Secretary Meñez mentioned that the art works and crafts on display “constitute but a slice of the Philippines’ active art and artisanal movement” and reveal facets of the lives of overseas Filipinos and the Filipino ethos.
For her part, Director General Wang Wen of the Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office recalled the recent agreement between President Xi Jinping and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to enhance the comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and the Philippines, including people-to-people exchanges. “We have the natural foundation for people to be close to each other and have the unique advantages of exchange and mutual learning,” she observed. Ms. Wang added that colorful Philippine culture and art enjoy a “good international reputation”.
The Philippine Arts and Crafts Exhibit features paintings by Philippine contemporary artists alongside Filipino-made showpieces of shells, weaves, wood, and basket located at the third level of the World Financial Center, Yuzhong District Chongqing.
Mr. Zhang Yuanhong, Deputy Party Secretary of Chongqing’s Yuzhong District, noted the long history of exchanges between China and the Philippines and their good neighborly relations. The Exhibition, according to Mr. Zhang, fully demonstrates the unique artistic charm of the Philippines and builds a bridge of friendly exchanges between the Chinese and the Filipino people.
Representing the Consulate’s principal partner in this initiative, Mr. Yang Guangshun, Head of the Chongqing International Culture Exchange Center, remarked that “the Philippines and Chongqing have their own unique culture, and culture becomes colorful because of exchange, culture is enriched through mutual learning.” Mr. Yang looked forward to partnering with the Consulate again in similar activities.
(Top) Consul General Mayo and special guests toast to Philippines-Chongqing partnership for stronger bilateral ties. (Bottom) They enjoy an eight-course Filipino dinner to cap a successful exhibit opening.
The event showcased creative items of shell, wood, baskets and weaves crafted by poor communities in the Philippines. It also featured Filipino canapes and beverages as well as an interactive introduction to the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival.
Curated by Mr. Vincent Deng of Hong Kong VA Galleries, “Warm Chongqing, Colorful Philippines” is a sequel to the month-long Philippine Contemporary Art show held in the Chinese megacity last November. The Philippine Arts and Crafts Exhibition also displays the works of Jensen Moreno, Erick Dator, Marvic B. Gile, Fernando Regencia, Nelson Medina, Romel Reyes, Christiane Mayo, Ann Tuano, Mark Anthony Navida, Aprilfleur S. Galima-Mejia, Ronna Zhang, Rodolfo Talde, Jr., Sarah S. Erer, and Ronald M. Naybe
The Philippine Art and Crafts exhibit will run from 16 to 31January 2022 alongside local festivities of the Chinese New Year. END