Following the BEAT at the Lopez Museum

[Heidi Kleiber]

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to go to the BEAT Exhibit at the Lopez Museum. The exhibit showcases the works of two contemporary artists Nikki Luna and Ernesto Conception.

The word BEAT can have several meaning. It can mean defeat or surrender, but it could also mean rhythm or the unit of time in music. This is what the exhibit would like their viewers to think, what beat is for them.

I had the chance to talk to Nikki Luna, who´s works could be seen in the Gallery 2 and 3 of the Museum. She is also a human rights and land advocate, and her art reflects her advocacy. “Land is a major part of this show because land is really contested. A lot of our land is contested and disputed, either because of mining or of the feudal system.”

                                                                             (Nikki Luna)

 

("Picket fence" made of China bone; "Soil" land grabbing and mining)

 

Art is an effective tool for an uninterested person to develop interest in the issue. They come to the gallery, look at the arts and automatically reflect on it. Whether it is good or bad, whether they would like to help or not, there will be a question in their minds. Then they’ll find out about the information or the story, and would be left with the thought of where he stands. Would he care, or would he just look at the arts in the gallery? Would he just simply shrug his shoulders, or would he feel like there is something he can do to change the situation? – Nikki Luna

("7soil" represents 7 cities in Mindanao have been militarized due to mining; "Azucarera" white and brown sugar diamonds; "Embellished Earth" clay, rice and munggo in 14k gold)

Ernesto Concepcion`s work starts in Gallery 1 and could be found in different places in the museum. What makes his work special is that his arts connect with the other arts in the museum.

(Ernesto Concepcion)

 

Concepcion uses acetate and collage his own drawings. He can move and change his installation. He likes the organic aspect of not being fixed and can be easily moved around.

For him, BEAT means challenge or conflict, and he wants to challenge Hidalgo. Since he is a big fan of Hidalgo, he made Hidalgo his protagonist in his story. He made his own mythology with Hidalgo and turned him into a time traveling super robot, exactly infiltrating different dimensions and spaces. Hidalgo became a hero versus the existing arts in the exhibit.

The BEAT Exhibit gives a new outlook on how museums are perceived. It showcases two artists with different mindset, but in the end, manages to capture their audiences’ attention with their advocacy and style.

The BEAT Exhibit could be found at the Lopez Museum, Benpress Building, Ortigas Center. The exhibit will run until Nov. 17, 2012.