Inspired by the land

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This article was published 25/07/2024 (776 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A sea of vibrant colours and intricate designs greeted the more than 120 guests who attended the opening of Lupa ay Buhay | Land Is Life on July 5.

Curated by 25-year-old Ana Ilagan with the assistance of Andrea Reichert from the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library, the exhibition offers a mesmerizing journey through the rich craft traditions of the Philippines.

“The opening was a huge success,” says Ilagan.“This is my very first exhibition that I’ve curated, and I’m really excited. It’s a celebration of Filipino culture and ingenuity of our people.”

Lupa ay Buhay is on display at the Shirley Richardson Craft Gallery, 329 Cumberland Ave., until Aug. 28. The exhibit showcases Filipino culture through diverse craft traditions, featuring everything from textile weaving to intricately embroidered garments.

As visitors enter, they are greeted by a pair of Ifugao hunter and huntress carvings from the mid-20th century, made from hardwood native to the Philippines and depicting an indigenous group from the Cordillera region of northern Luzon.

“Transporting these carvings was hard because of their weight,” Ilagan says.

Moving through the exhibition, visitors encounter a wide range of traditional Filipino crafts. The basketry section features pieces like the Salakot, a traditional headgear made from bamboo, palm and rattan leaves, worn by the Tagalog and Kapampangan peoples. These items, loaned by community members Allan Pineda and Ruby Maestro Manalang, feature vivid hues and natural materials.

“The central theme of this exhibition is how our material culture in the Philippines comes from the land,” Ilagan says. “Farmers and indigenous people have tended and cultivated the land for centuries, making them the creators of our modern culture.”

One of her favourite sections is the textile display, which includes traditional garments of the T’boli people from South Cotabato, Mindanao. The T’boli are known for their brightly coloured clothing, geometric patterns and brass adornments, all of which are passed down through generations.

“I think the garments are sort of like a standout piece to Filipinos who are visiting the exhibition as well,” says Ilagan, “because it’s a part of our culture and history that we don’t really learn about in our textbook in the Philippines.”

The Kulintang, a gong chime set from the Maranao tribe in southern Philippines, is another noteworthy piece. This mid-20th-century instrument, with its eight iron plates on a wooden frame carved with okkir motifs, showcases detailed woodwork and musical traditions.

“I love the wood carving details on the Kulintang. It’s a unique and cool piece,” she says.

An interactive element of the exhibit is the Sungka game, a traditional Filipino game similar to Mancala. Visitors can sit and play, immersing themselves in the cultural experience.

Curating the exhibit has been a deeply personal and educational journey for Ilagan.

“It’s been a learning process for me. There’s so much diversity and culture in the Philippines that I wasn’t aware of,” she says. “There are a lot of Filipinos in Winnipeg and it’s important for us to see a representation of our culture in spaces like this.”

“I’m proud to be Filipino,” she adds.

The exhibit not only aims to connect Filipino Canadians with their heritage, but also to educate non-Filipinos about the rich cultural traditions of the Philippines.

“It’s important for all of Winnipeg to see this exhibit. It helps us understand each other better and preserves our culture and heritage, even in the diaspora,” Ilagan says.

Ilagan is proud of her first curatorial project, and grateful for the support of the Filipino community and organizations like the Philippine-Canadian Centre of Manitoba and the Kultivation Festival.

“A lot of the pieces you see were actually loaned to us by people in the community,” she says. “I wouldn’t have been able to create this exhibit without everyone’s support.”

thandi.vera@winnipegfreepress