Estan Cabigas

The first part of the Nothing to Declare International Contemporary Art Exhibition opened at the Blanc Compound in Mandaluyong last 18 October where my photographic work, Looking for Mr. Vhoy is included. This work is specifically done for this event.

My series is a tribute to my father, an attempt to paint a portrait of him through images consisting of three parts:

• photographs from the family album
• photographs made of his things
• photographs, that for me represents my father

The work is presented in an unusual manner, considering space limitations and concept of the work, not in the usual print and hang but combination of virtual and album which, I can proudly say, my first installation work!

Artist talk will be on 27 October at the Blanc Compound, starting at 2PM with two other artists.

Nothing to Declare International Contemporary Art Exhibition
Blanc Compound
359 Shaw Blvd.
Mandaluyong City
18 October – 12 November 2011

Other than the photo lecture that Zhuang Wubin will be conducting in Singapore, what I’m really looking forward to, and most excited about, for my photography work, The New Cathedrals, is this:

NOORDERLICHT 2011 PHOTO FESTIVAL!!!

Yeah, that’s the photo event in Groningen, The Netherlands. It’s the second time that I’ve submitted work for consideration and this time, The New Cathedrals was accepted, which was in line with the theme, Metropolis – City Life in the Urban Age. Looking at the list of participants, its a who’s who in the Photography world and I’m very much honored to be in the company of photographers that I have great admiration:

Peter Bialobrzeski (my mentor in Mapping Invisible Cities project, showing the slum dwellings in Manila and I was the one who accompanied him when he took one of the exhibited images)
Alejandro Cartagena
Jodi Bieber
Nadav Kander
Simon Norfolk
Sherman Ong (met him during a photography workshop in Singapre)
Hans-Christian Schink
Munem Wasif (had dinner with him in Malate when he visited Manila)

Unfortunately, the photo festival doesn’t have a budget for the photographer’s travel and that means, I won’t be able to be there during the opening, unless someone will sponsor round trip tickets.

Zhuang Wubin, the curator of our group show, Notes from the South: New Photography from Southeast Asia tagged me in Facebook with the images showing our work being exhibited. I didn’t expect that all the images I submitted were printed and mounted.

The venue used to be an old paper factory. While it’s not really the best layout, I’m quite happy. Too bad I wasn’t able to go there.