Lyra Garcellano's essay examines Southeast Asian artistic identity, market pressures, and colonial legacies
On September 25, 2025, Lyra Garcellano published an essay that explores the influence of Southeast Asian artists within global art frameworks shaped by Cold War entities like SEATO (1954-1977). She reflects on her neon installation from 2017, titled 'Southeast Asian Artist To Be Or Not To Be,' which challenges the significance of regional identity in art markets. The essay also examines the Philippines' English language policies since the 1900s, viewing them as both a colonial legacy and an economic advantage affecting labor export since 1992. Garcellano critiques major events such as the Venice Biennale (established 1895) and Art Fair Philippines (2018) for reinforcing existing hierarchies. She cites Caroline S. Hau's 2024 book 'Character' and Mladen Stilinović's 1992 work, while addressing 2025 U.S. limitations on 'activism' and 'social justice' alongside the agenda of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines. This discussion is linked to the 70th anniversary of the 1955 Bandung Conference.
Key facts
- Lyra Garcellano's essay was published on September 25, 2025
- The essay examines Southeast Asian artistic identity through the lens of Garcellano's 2017 neon work 'Southeast Asian Artist To Be Or Not To Be'
- Historical analysis traces regional frameworks to Cold War-era SEATO (1954-1977)
- The Philippines' English language proficiency is analyzed as colonial legacy and economic asset, with call-center industries established in 1992
- Mega-events like the Venice Biennale (founded 1895) and Art Fair Philippines (2018) create inclusion hierarchies
- Marcos-era cultural projects like the Manila Film Center are connected to contemporary aspirations for international recognition
- The Concerned Artists of the Philippines introduced the 'Artists and Cultural Workers Agenda' in early 2025
- The essay references the 70th anniversary of the 1955 Bandung Conference
Entities
Artists
- Lyra Garcellano
- Caroline S. Hau
- Mladen Stilinović
- Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
- Imelda Marcos
- Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez
- Yoneda Naoki
- Elle Yap
Institutions
- Afterall
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
- Finale Art File
- Singapore Art Museum
- Art Fair Philippines
- Venice Biennale
- Cultural Center of the Philippines
- Metropolitan Museum
- Manila Film Center
- The National Art Center, Tokyo
- Mori Art Museum
- The Japan Foundation Asia Center
- Concerned Artists of the Philippines
- Ateneo de Manila University Press
- The New York Times
- BluPrint
- Traffic
- Pananaw, Philippine Journal of the Visual Arts
Locations
- Southeast Asia
- Philippines
- Manila
- Kyoto
- Japan
- Tokyo
- Singapore
- United States
- Middle East
- Asia
- Africa
Sources
- Afterall —