Who and what defines women’s image?
The Cultural Center of the Philippines’ touring exhibit, entitled “Woman: Thesis and Antithesis” delves into the representation of women in the field of visual arts in the Philippines. Curated by Jeannie Javelosa, director of the Yuchengco Museum, the exhibit features artworks that celebrate women artists and challenge the gender divide in the field. The exhibit is divided into two sections: the Women in Society collection and the Women Expressions collection.
The Women in Society collection highlights women’s roles in society and prompts audiences to reflect on whether women have been accurately represented throughout history. Meanwhile, the Women Expressions collection showcases how women’s art has become an extension of their expressions on particular issues they face in a patriarchal society. Some of the artworks in this collection advocate for changes in the way women are perceived and their roles in society.
The exhibit is part of the CCP touring exhibit series and marks its first collaboration with the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City. The CCP’s chairperson, Jaime C. Laya, expressed gratitude to the Yuchengco Museum and other partner organizations for helping the CCP continue its mission in the promotion and preservation of Philippine arts and culture during its three-year closure.
The exhibit raises the conversation on the prevailing gender gap among Filipino visual artists, with all 17 national artist awardees being male. The Woman: Thesis and Antithesis exhibit aims to start an enriching conversation on the gender divide and hopes to address the issue.
The exhibit runs until June 24, 2023, at the Yuchengco Museum in Makati City. Entrance fees for adults are Php100, with a discounted price of Php50 for students, seniors, and PWDs. Free admission days are available on April 29, May 20, and June 24, which include public programs such as an open dialogue on the history of the CCP Visual Arts Collection, a forum on gender representation in art, and a gathering of selected women recipients of the Thirteen Artists Awards to talk about generational differences in art-making and expressions of femininity.
For more information, visit the official CCP and CCP Visual Arts and Museum Division Facebook accounts, or follow CCP on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
