The Art of Propaganda

MANILA, Philippines - The Lopez Museum and Library, in a technology partnership with Samsung, opened its first exhibition for 2015, Propaganda.

The exhibition fleshes out the idea of myth-making and its capacity to inspire change or derail genuine national progress.

Using state-of-the-art Samsung equipment and programming to enhance the museum-going experience through digital technology, it is an exhibition that challenges not just our notions of art and history, but also how we view museums and libraries.

Ricky Francisco, co-curator of Propaganda, said the exhibition was conceived more than a year ago to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II with Don Salubayba, 2009 CCP Thirteen Artists Awardee and one of the most promising artists of his generation. Salubayba unexpectedly passed away during the planning process and the exhibition evolved to be also a tribute to him. The exhibition includes a few of his important works such as Pagsasabuhay, Abysmal Abound: Trinity of Passiveness, and his “anino-mation” (shadow puppetry) A Not so Giant Story (Legend of the Philippines) that have been sourced and borrowed with the help of Tin-aw Artists Management.

Also featured are World War II posters, election-related archival materials, LVN movies still photographs, a collection of rare maps, Philippine imprints; a recreation of Santiago Bose’s 1983 installation Pasyon at Rebolusyon that has been reinstalled by Kawayan de Guia; commissioned works from social realist and Negros Occidental-based artist Nunelucio Alvarado; 2012 Thirteen Artists awardee Joey Cobcobo; and writer and Gawad Urian awardee film-maker Alvin Yapan.

Enriching the exhibit and re-framing the exhibition issues are works by 18th century masters Juan Luna and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, along with those of National Artists Fernando Amorsolo, Jose Joya, Cesar Legaspi, Vicente Manansala and J. Elizalde Navarro from the permanent collection.

Co-curator Ethel Villafranca says that this exhibition invites visitors to “reflect on where we as a country have been and where we are going.”

Francisco adds, “We hope that this would help the public become more critical of all the propaganda they will be exposed to once the nation is plunged into the campaign period for the 2016 elections.”

In this way, Propaganda aims to engage the public, challenge them to see the connections in history and culture within the objects in the collection, and be more discerning when presented with information, whether political or otherwise.

Propaganda is ongoing until May 30, and is presented with support from Samsung Philippines, Tin-aw Artists Management, the heirs of Doña Narcisa de Leon (LVN collection), and ABS-CBN Film and Media Archives.

Lopez Museum and Library is at the G/F Benpres Bldg., Meralco cor. Exchange Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.