Pio Abad's Ongoing Project The Collection of Jane Ryan & William Saunders Confronts Marcos Legacy
Pio Abad's artistic endeavor, The Collection of Jane Ryan & William Saunders (2014–), delves into the enduring impact of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos on the Philippines, alluding to their aliases used for Swiss bank accounts. The artist recreates opulent possessions and artworks belonging to the Marcoses, drawing attention to their concealed illicit wealth. A controversial declaration by the Philippine House of Representatives on 11 September 2020, which named that date President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day, sparked discussions on historical revisionism. The Marcos era (1965–86) was notorious for human rights violations, with Amnesty International reporting more than 3,200 extrajudicial killings. The Supreme Court estimates that the family misappropriated $10 billion. Abad's work features postcards of Marcos artifacts and 3D-printed jewelry from the 'Hawaii Collection,' tackling themes of greed and historical forgetfulness.
Key facts
- Pio Abad's project The Collection of Jane Ryan & William Saunders began in 2014.
- The Marcos regime is associated with over 3,200 extrajudicial deaths and $10 billion in embezzled wealth.
- In September 2020, 197 Philippine legislators voted to create President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day.
- Abad's parents were political activists imprisoned during the Marcos era.
- Abad performed a black paint covering of his reproductions in 2016 at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Manila.
- The project includes postcards viewers can take, featuring artworks once owned by the Marcoses.
- A 2019 iteration at the Honolulu Biennial involved 3D-printed jewellery from the seized 'Hawaii Collection'.
- The Presidential Commission on Good Government has recovered under 10% of the Marcoses' missing assets.
Entities
Artists
- Pio Abad
- Ferdinand Edralin Marcos
- Imelda Marcos
- Evan Cosayco
- Francisco de Goya
- Frances Wadsworth Jones
- Behn Cervantes
- José Rizal
- Marv Recinto
- Cait Munro
Institutions
- Philippine House of Representatives
- Amnesty International
- Philippine Supreme Court
- University of Philippines
- Glasgow School of Art
- Royal Academy
- Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Manila
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Artnet
- missingart.ph
- Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG)
- Honolulu Biennial
- Christie's
- Artreview
Locations
- Manila
- Philippines
- Ilocos Norte
- Switzerland
- Glasgow
- United Kingdom
- London
- Hawaii
- United States
- Los Angeles