Philippine Protest Art Explores National Democratic Movement Through Contemporary Practices
On September 25, 2025, an essay authored by Arianna Mercado, Yuji de Torres, and Dominic Zinampan explores the relationship between modern Philippine art and the National Democratic movement, tracing its origins back to the 1970s with the Kaisahan artists' group and David Medalla's political involvement. Medalla was a co-founder of the Artists Liberation Front (1972–74) and Artists for Democracy (1974–77). The analysis includes recent initiatives such as SAKA's Bungkalan LAND project (2019), the installation Compostlight by Enzo Camacho and Ami Lien (2023), and the exhibition 'Offerings for Escalante' (2023), which commemorates the Escalante Massacre of September 20, 1985. It also discusses Renz Lee's exhibitions and the writings of Alice G. Guillermo and Jose Maria Sison, highlighting the contrast between activist art and state-sponsored art during Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s regime.
Key facts
- Essay published September 25, 2025
- Authors: Arianna Mercado, Yuji de Torres, Dominic Zinampan
- References Jose Maria Sison's 1966 call for cultural revolution
- Discusses Kaisahan artist organization founded in 1976
- David Medalla co-founded Artists Liberation Front (1972–74)
- SAKA's Bungkalan LAND initiative started in 2019 in Quezon City
- Enzo Camacho and Ami Lien's exhibition 'Offerings for Escalante' in 2023
- Escalante Massacre occurred September 20, 1985
- Renz Lee's exhibition 'A Tale of Two Countries' at Galeri Nasional Indonesia in 2017
- Alice G. Guillermo wrote on Maoist aesthetics in 1993
Entities
Artists
- Arianna Mercado
- Yuji de Torres
- Dominic Zinampan
- David Medalla
- Mars Galang
- Jun Lansang
- Enzo Camacho
- Ami Lien
- Renz Lee
- Alice G. Guillermo
- Jose Maria Sison
- Kris Montañez
- Angelo V. Suárez
- Donna Miranda
- Patrick D. Flores
- Eva Bentcheva
- Fernando Marcos
- Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
- Rodrigo Duterte
- Mao Tse-tung
- Mao Zedong
- Suharto
Institutions
- Afterall
- Kaisahan
- Kabataang Makabayan
- Signals Gallery
- Exploding Galaxy
- Artists Liberation Front
- Artists for Democracy
- SAKA
- Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
- Anakpawis Party-list
- Cultural Center of the Philippines
- Nagkakaisang Progresibong Artista at Arkitekto
- Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan
- Student Cultural Association of the University of the Philippines
- Galeri Nasional Indonesia
- University of the Philippines
- MoMA PS1
- Gallery of Modern Art
- Bakwit School
- Teatro Obrero
- Tambisan sa Sining
- ALPAS Pilipinas
- New York Committee for Human Rights Philippines
- Kapit Kamay-Alternative Learning Avenue for the Youth
- Silingan Coffee
- Respond and Break the Silence Against the Killings
- Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap
Locations
- Philippines
- Manila
- Quezon City
- Metro Manila
- Pook Amorsolo
- University of the Philippines Diliman
- Negros Island
- Escalante City
- Indonesia
- Jakarta
- London
- Glasgow
- New York
- Berlin
- Visayas
- Mindanao
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- United States
- Soviet Union
- China
- Germany
- Gelsenkirchen
- Utrecht
- Essen
- Singapore
Sources
- Afterall —