Fri, 16 June 2017 3.00 PM – 5.00 PM

Makati Museum

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in partnership with the British Council, San Miguel Holdings Corporation, Davies Paints and OneRedesign Manila have selected eight artists and art collectives to take part in the Pasig River Art for Urban Change project.

The selected artists are Archie Oclos (PH), Cristina Lina and Malarko Hernandez (UK), Ged Alangui (PH), Kris Abrigo (PH), Luigi Almuena (PH), Ralph Eya and Hospicio de San Jose youth residents (PH) and Team Manila Graphic Design Studio (PH). Artists Leeroy New and Janno Abenoja created the inaugural work for the project last November 2016 on the Escolta pumping station.

The announcement took place last 2 June at MMDA.

Between June and August 2017, the artists will be painting murals on eight different pumping stations along the river. An art cruise will be organised by MMDA upon completion of all works.

Pasig River Art for Urban Change aims to create more liveable and inclusive cities through the regeneration of the Pasig River. It invites artists to use the façade of pumping stations as blank canvases for creative expression.

Two of the artists are the London-based duo, Cristina Lina and Malarko Hernandez.

About the artists

Cristina Lina (b. 1986) and Malarko Hernandez (b. 1984) have collaborated together since 2012. Murals have been a constant part of their shared practice, and they have painted walls together in London, Belfast, Peru, New York and New Zealand. Often making up part of the work as they go along, their murals feature an array of ridiculous characters, made up slogans, and an onslaught of colours, patterns and cultural references. They have also collaborated together for KAWICHIPOP! (Stoke-On-Trent 2016) an interactive sculpture garden made entirely of rubbish and BRICK POTATO POTATO BRICK (London 2016), an exhibition that paid homage to these two everyday items. Both self-taught, Lina and Hernandez continue to explore and experiment with ideas and materials outside of conventional frameworks for art and art practice. Lina has recently culminated an outdoor public project titled ‘Rope Swings’, with an exhibition at Nevven Gallery in Gothenburg, and Hernandez is in the midst of an ongoing series of work involving the replacement of paving slabs with ‘art slabs’ in public spaces. 

The duo is also giving an artist talk and exploring further collaborations with local artists.

©

Image courtesy of the artists.
   ©

Image courtesy of the artists.
   ©

Image courtesy of the artists.

Pasig River Art for Urban Change is a platform for artistic creation and collaboration around the regeneration of the river. It aims to create more liveable and inclusive cities through public art interventions along the Pasig River. It enables the access of public spaces for creative use while raising awareness on the importance of rivers among city dwellers. 

The works will be on nine pumping stations along the river, which are visible to ferry commuters and riverbank inhabitants. Pasig River is historically an important transportation route and water source in Metro Manila but has since been declared overly polluted by ecologists. Pumping stations, although often overlooked, are vital in the city’s flood management as they regulate the water levels of the river and sewers. 

Through Pasig River Art for Urban Change, the river can once again be Metro Manila’s primary corridor for transportation and cultural activities.

 

Pasig River Art for Urban Change is spearheaded by MMDA, in partnership with the British Council, San Miguel Holdings Corporation, Davies Paints and OneRedesign Manila. Special thanks to Makati City, Makati Poblacion Heritage Conservation Project, 1Day.io and Bayani Brew.

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