NAMAMAHAY Public Day 2 Program - 4 August

A Piece of Mango’s by Tetsuya Umeda

Tetsuya Umeda is a sound and visual artist based in Osaka, Japan. He is known for his kinetic installation and unorthodox performances that deal with space, objects, human behavior, and technology, which challenges our very conception of art and the limits of arts performativity. Working with Las Casas tour guides, he created a tour performance about interpretation. "A Piece of Mango’s" is derived from the recurring imagery of a woman with a mango in paintings found in different houses in Las Casas. The guides led a small group of 10 people to tour around Casa Binan. The controversial love story within the house’s history unfolds and mangos appear and disappear with each turn of the corner. Playing on the themes of history, truths, myths and authenticity, Tetsuya leaves it to the tour participant to decide “what is authentic or not.”

153km Away by Mars Bugaoan

Mars Bugaoan collaborated with the mosaic workshop. He used fiberglass trimmings and quilted them together in irregular shapes with a variety of colors. He then placed these chained sections throughout various interior and exterior places throughout Las Casas. Mars’s intention for the work is a movable installation art that can be installed all over the place. He also made a video documentation of the meandering of this work within Las Casas throughout the duration of the residency.

Pamamahay by Katti Sta. Ana

Katti Sta. Ana finds purpose and meaning in teaching art. Katti’s Pamamahay was the closing ritual for Namamahay. With Kuya Tonton, senior welder, she designed a topiary in the shape of a paniki (Philipppine Giant Fruit Bat or Golden Crowned Flying Fox) made out of scrap metal soldered together with a tangisan-bayawak planted inside the sculpture. These two represent the symbiotic relationship of each other: paniki feeds on figs of the tangisan-bayawak. As part of her advocacy for responsible engagement with the environment, the work represents the bats coming from Bataan and Subic area. She mentions that while most people are afraid of these creatures, bats are mammals like us too, hence needing to survive as they play an important role in nature. The closing ritual commenced with a prayer led and sung by all the participating artists and GMRC students. It was then followed by the lighting of the terracotta lanterns that were made in collaboration with the brick making workshop. The lanterns were shaped like the fruits and figs that the bats eat and the lit candles symbolize human eyes—eyes that should be open to the actions affecting the world around us. The ritual was concluded with “Hol Doyon Kuy D’wata,” a song that praises the Creator.

Thank you to Ate Dayang, to all the artists,  Las Casas craftsmen, Las Casas staff, and our valuable volunteers for their hard work and creating these projects that made everyone feel like at home!