By Ricky Matthew
AUCKLAND – Catholicism, Baroque churches, Lechon, surnames and Kamusta – these are just a few of the lasting legacies of the Spanish colonisation. It’s safe to say that this period redefined what it means to be a Filipino.
Yet, so few Filipinos remember what indigenous Philippines was like before the arrival of the Spanish.
On a mission to showcase indigenous Filipino art, Auckland-based Filipino artist and Outstanding Filipino-Kiwi Artist 2024, Louie Bretaña, has opened a solo exhibition in the heart of Auckland.
The ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ exhibition at Bergman Gallery in Central Auckland runs from 5th December to 21st December.
Louie says his exhibition is a reminder for Filipinos to hold on to traditional values.
“I wanted to show our story before the Spanish and before colonisation. Because a lot of what Filipinos are known for is like we are the biggest catholic population in Asia and the most fluent in English. All of those things we got from colonisation. So I wanted to show our truth. And so it is not just lost,” he explains.
The exhibition features a range of art pieces that draw inspiration from ancestral spirits, ‘Anito’, and their connection to the natural world and deities of nature, ‘Diwata’.
“The paintings represent ancestral spirits. For example the rooster represents Sarimanok,” says Louie.
The Sarimanok is seen as a messenger of the Gods and plays a vital role in the indigenous Philippine creation story. The creature pecked and split a bamboo to bring forth the first Filipinos.
“And another set of painting represents butterflies. In the Philippines when a butterfly comes and lands you, you know it is an ancestral spirit.”
At a glance, visitors notice the combination of a bright colour palette and gold textures. In the Sarimanok piece, these colours represent wealth, power, prestige and the magical essence of the ancestral spirits.
“I use a lot of sparkling materials [glass crystals and glitter] to show the magic of the ancestral spirits,” he says.
“Our style in the Philippines is very full. For example, the jeepneys in the old days, there was not a single spot that was not painted.”
“Of course a lot of the [art] methods have developed over time but the stories are traditional.”
The ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ exhibition is open at the Bergman Gallery, Grey Lynn, until the 21st December.
