Artists supporting art exhibit Kulô call for unity vs censorship
CARMELA LAPEÑA, GMA News
08/11/2011 02:33 PM
Lamenting over the closure of the art exhibit Kulô, artists at a forum at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City, on Thursday called for unity against censorship.
"Napakalungkot para sa kalagayan ng sining sa pilipinas," said National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera at the press conference dubbed "Palayain ang Sining" held Thursday morning at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication auditorium.
"Sa pagsuko ng CCP [Cultural Center of the Philippines] board sa mga dinedemanda ng mga tutol sa exhibition, naganap ang pagsuko hindi lang ng institusyon, kung di pagsuko ng mga indibidwal na artista," said Lumbera, who also heads the Concerned Artists of the Philippines.
At the forum, artists from various fields expressed their dismay at the exhibit's "censorship."
"Sa susunod na panahon, nandoon ang posibilidad na bawat artista na may lilikhaing sayaw, pelikula, akda ay 'di lamang mag-iisip kung dapat ba niyang ituloy ang tunay niyang niloloob sa paglikha ng sining dahil nandoon yung takot o pangamba na mayroong mga taong gagawa ng pagtutol sa kanyang nilikha," said Lumbera.
Lumbera said CCP's decision to close the main gallery where the exhibit was put up opens the door to further opposition from the powers that be.
"Kaya maaasahan natin sa mga susunod na okasyon na magkakaroon ng paggamit ng sining upang ipakita ang pagsalungat ng mga artista o ng isang artista sa umiiral na kalagayan sa lipunan, maaasahan natin na ang mga obispo, ang mga pinuno ng mga reaksyonaryong artista, mga tagapagmasid sa lipunan ay pauulit-ulit na maghaharap ng pagtutol tungkol sa ginagawa para sa sining ng CCP," he said, referring to former First Lady Imelda Marcos' authority to judge an artwork.
On August 7, the Mrs. Marcos arrived at the CCP to see the exhibit and called for it's closure, saying it was "only a desecration of a sacred symbol."
The CCP Board of Directors decided to close the exhibit on August 8, but clarified it was not due to pressure from anyone but to ensure the safety of the involved artists and CCP officials, who claimed to have been receiving threats. See story: CCP closes down gallery with controversial Kulô exhibit.
"Kung may mangyari hindi ko yata kayang patawarin ang sarili ko. I thought it was perhaps the wiser thing to close it down. I thought this is going to be a very bad thing for artists in general, pero naisip ko baka ma-diffuse lang, magkalma lang, para magkarinigan ang bawat panig," said CCP chairperson Emily Abrera at an academic forum held at the UP Claro M. Recto hall Wednesday afternoon.
"I received a text message saying I should enjoy my birthday because it may be my last," she also said.
Mideo Cruz, whose mixed media installation "Poleteismo" became controversial after being "taken out of context," said he, too, "had received threats."
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