Current Terrain video work, video projection on collapsed industrial building.
The site-specific installation is situated in the collapsed building 2 of Aldea Compound, bringing to front the historical agency of the main building that used to be a rice mill. Painted on its concrete facade are the fading words UMMMA - Ugyon sang Mangunguma, Mangingisda kag Mamumugon sa Antique (Alliance of Farmers, Fishermen and Workers in Antique) which deliberately inspired the whole thought-process of the work.
UMMMA aims to represent a barometer measuring the needle of progress in the quality of life for rural communities. The 5:38 min single channel video entitled Current Terrain is composed of a series of recorded conversations conducted within the region of Panay. We zoomed in to listen to the shared narratives of Santiago Yanguas (74-year old farmer in Sibalom) Rowel Saldajeno (fisherfolk leader in Malandog), Nenen Padojenog (an artisan of rare Asin Tultul salt in Guimaras Island) and Ma. Elena Mariano (community leader and blacksmith in Odiong). Their voices shed light to the multifaceted challenges of displacement, access to free education, poverty alleviation, livelihood support, financial assistance during times of disaster and the impact of climate change to their livelihoods.
The captured pervasive signs in the video, whether regulatory or commercial, are commonly imposed by both government and secular commercial entities in our daily surroundings. It underscores the overarching influence of capitalism on our daily lives. The work becomes a reflection on the relevance of random signages in our lives, symbolizing the commodification of spaces and the societal values shaped by late capitalism.
How can we further challenge the discourse and social action in local artistic endeavors? In what ways can art move from being a passive observer to an active participant in the socio-cultural and political landscapes it seeks to critique? How can art platforms like Viva ExCon redefine their role beyond a showcase for artistic expression to become agents of social change and community development?
These questions transform the work into a breathing social inquiry. It’s an invitation to navigate the complexities of our era, exploring the interconnected forces of economy, culture, and politics, not as distant observers but as active participants in the narrative of our shared humanity. (Giah De los Reyes, 2023)