Cover The Metropolitan Museum of Manila, with the help of curator Kathy Huang, presents ‘Wild’: an exhibition of nature-inspired art by women abstractionists
The Metropolitan Museum of Manila, with the help of curator Kathy Huang, presents ‘Wild’: an exhibition of nature-inspired art by women abstractionists
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The Metropolitan Museum of Manila delved into the world of abstractionism with ‘Wild’, an exhibition showcasing the works of today’s most dynamic female artists
Efforts have been made for decades to address and rectify gender inequality in the art industry through revisionist or women-focused exhibitions. Key players in the art world have focused on past and present art movements that highlight marginalised, overshadowed or forgotten women artists. The Metropolitan Museum of Manila’s exhibition for Women’s Month this year, titled Wild: Women Abstractionists on Nature or simply Wild, is a testament to the ongoing efforts of the art community.
Conceptualised by the Asian-American Kathy Huang, an independent curator based in New York, Wild showcased some of today’s most dynamic female abstract artists whose creations are deeply influenced by nature—encompassing the environment, cosmos and human body.
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Above Fernando Zobel, Helen Delgado, Kit Zobel, Agnes Huibonhua, Wonhee Delgado, and Tina Colayco
Above Marielle Po, Tim Yap, and Leo Po
Fernando Zobel, Helen Delgado, Kit Zobel, Agnes Huibonhua, Wonhee Delgado, and Tina Colayco
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Above Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See is the guest of honour
Above A view of the foyer and gallery
Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See is the guest of honour
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Many of the featured artists translated their surroundings into vibrant colours and dynamic forms, raising questions about the visual similarities and conceptual differences across artists from East to West and the diaspora in between.
Wild highlighted the works of Cecily Brown, Katharina Grosse, Kylie Manning, Mary Weatherford, Sarah Awad, Li Hei Di, Jadé Fadojutimi, Camilla Engstrom and Christine Ay Tjoe, among others.
Huang also included Filipino women abstractionists, such as Nicole Coson and Corinne de San Jose, who were present at the opening, as well as Francesca Enriquez and the Brooklyn-based artist Sara Jimenez.
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Above David “Mr StarCity” White enjoys the exhibition
Above London-based Filipino artist Nicole Coson
David “Mr StarCity” White enjoys the exhibition
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Above Corinne de San Jose, interdisciplinary media artist based in the Philippines, attends the exhibit’s launch
Above Stanley and Abby Chan pose for a photo
Corinne de San Jose, interdisciplinary media artist based in the Philippines, attends the exhibit’s launch
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Jimenez was unable to attend, but her father, Emmanuel, came by to see his daughter’s collage abstractions made from photographs of the Philippines during the American colonial era. She previously cited her father, who had moved to the US when he was nine years old, as an inspiration for her work. Also present was Wonhee “Whee” Delgado, a Korean artist currently based in Manila.
“The impact of Wild lies not only in the powerful abstract direction of the works inspired by nature but in the liberating role of the featured women artists defining their art and who they are in the contemporary world,” said The M president Tina Colayco. Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See, the opening night’s guest of honour, also spoke of women’s impact in art.
Arthur Fabien visits the exhibit launch
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The evening’s experience was further elevated by the eclectic tunes spun by DJ Joee Mejias, ensuring a vibrant and engaging atmosphere for all attendees.
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Images: The Metropolitan Museum of Manila
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
