Ami Lien & Enzo Camacho's Exhibition at Para Site Examines Escalante's History Through Art

Ami Lien and Enzo Camacho present 'Offerings for Escalante' at Para Site in Hong Kong, running from 21 October to 8 February. The exhibition centers on the 1985 Escalante Massacre in the Philippines, where paramilitary forces killed 20 peaceful protesters during Ferdinand Marcos's regime. Their film Langit Lupa (2023) features survivor testimonies and footage of the massacre site, juxtaposed with phytograms created from local plants. The artists reference Alfonso Ossorio's 1950 mural Angry Christ, located on Negros island, which inspired their exploration of the region's layered history. Works on handmade paper incorporate natural materials like banana stalk and coconut husk, adapting Ossorio's wax-resist technique. Lien and Camacho have conducted field research on Negros since 2017, engaging with communities and documenting the island's sociopolitical context. The exhibition includes sculptures, lightworks, and drawings that address themes of oppression and historical repetition. 'Bongbong' Marcos's current presidency in the Philippines adds contemporary resonance to these historical reflections.