Art, in its various forms, serves a purpose that transcends mere aesthetics, addressing the needs of both the artist and the community. This rings true for multidisciplinary artist Leeroy New’s Mebuyan’s Colony, the featured Earth Day art installation at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The unveiling is set for April 25th at 6 p.m. on the CCP Front Lawn.
Meant to raise environmental awareness and advocate for green initiatives, Mebuyan’s Colony is a large-scale immersive environment that melds New’s fascination with science fiction and Philippine mythology, evident in the giant spheres mounted on bamboo stilts.
Inspired by Bagobo mythology, Mebuyan is the goddess residing in the underworld, her body adorned with seemingly infinite breasts. The pods resembling wombs symbolize Mebuyan’s dual role as the goddess of death and fertility, nurturing the spirits of departed children and guiding them into adulthood in the afterlife.
New’s use of natural materials, found objects, and assorted discards transformed into representations of a speculative future intertwines Filipino contemporary life, pre-colonial mythology, and environmentalism.
Speaking on his choice of local stories and pre-colonial mythology, New notes, “Our references to local stories and pre-colonial mythology can shape our approach to creative production. I referenced Mebuyan and other pre-colonial stories because many of us only hear the same narratives repeated. We often miss out on stories like Mebuyan, the goddess of death and fertility, who nurtures the spirits of deceased babies. There are many principles and elements that go overlooked.”
For this fifth iteration of the Mebuyan series, New incorporates this year’s Earth Day theme, “Planet vs. Plastics,” by using additional materials to shield plants from the heat.
“I’m drawn to pieces that explore practicality and functionality. When we built Mebuyan’s Colony, I pondered how we could create something more. How can we depart from practical structures, like cubes, and embrace more creative and fantastical forms, like these clusters of spheres?” shared New.
The Mebuyan installation at the CCP will employ blue gallons instead of the usual clear plastic bottles, offering a semi-architectural and sculpture-like grouping that helps mitigate heat and ensures plant survival.
Born in General Santos City, New found inspiration in horror and sci-fi films, magic shows, card games, and illustrated books in the absence of art galleries and museums. Motivated by the spirit of play and exploration in art, he pursued the concept of world-building, manifesting it through physical art and architecture, as well as in film.
With Mebuyan’s Colony, New aims to challenge the conventional narrative of space exploration by advocating for regenerative and introspective principles, prompting humans to redefine their relationship with Mother Earth.
Discussing his artistic vision, New elaborated, “It’s not just about themes of sci-fi in my work, but also moving towards the functional side. It’s not enough to merely represent something in art; it’s time to explore how to make it practical and useful.”
For the latest updates on Mebuyan’s Colony, follow the official CCP and CCP Visual Arts and Museum Division (CCP VAMD) social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
