Over the years, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has amassed a comprehensive collection of Philippine art and artifacts that serve as testament to the country’s visual heritage. From the works of multiple National Artists to pieces from contemporary artisans, the bank has upheld its commitment to preserving and showcasing these pieces of Filipino creative history. Past public exhibitions, such as “Pahinungód” and “Hiraya,” have spotlighted artworks from the country’s post-American occupation era and abstract period, respectively. Its virtual exhibit, “Tanaw,” brought viewers closer to digital renderings of the works of 14 National Artists. As BSP’s Deputy Governor Bernadette Puyat said in an interview with The Diarist, “Art should be displayed, appreciated, and experienced: not kept out of sight.”
For the BSP’s latest exhibition, the bank is partnering with the National Museum of the Philippines to present Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan: Contemporary Art from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Collection. The exhibit will showcase a selection of works from the BSP’s private collection and frame art as a living response to modern-day realities. The exhibit’s pieces capture themes of labor, national growth, and economic resilience, highlighting artists that were more than aware of the socio-political forces shaping their time. “[“Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan”] affirms art’s power to inspire dialogue and transform Filipino consciousness and action,” wrote the BSP in its official statement announcing the exhibit.
Running from August 15 to November 15 at Galleries XVIII and XIX at the National Museum of Fine Arts, the exhibit will unfold in two distinct sections: “Pagmulat” and “Pagtanaw.” “Pagmulat,” which includes works that reflect scenes from everyday Filipino life, will feature artists such as the late activist-painter Edgar Talusan Fernandez, Order of National Artist nominee Junyee, and Roberto Chabet, who is widely considered as the father of Filipino conceptual art.
“Pagtanaw,” on the other hand, will feature works from the late 1980s onwards, highlighting current changes in style and technique. This section will include pieces by abstract painter Gus Albor, photorealistic painter Marina Cruz, and multidisciplinary artist Patricia Eustaquio.
Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan is free and open to the public.
