Filipino Canadian narratives bloom in art exhibit

Left: Pat Lazo, Subtracted No.1, 2026, Mixed media, 36 x 48 in. (variable). Centre: Ally Gonzalo, Ama, Anak, Espirito Santo (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), 2024, Digital photography & illustration on canvas, 20 x 16 x 1.5 in. Right: Nereo, Namumukadkad na mga pangarap, 2026, Mixed media, 26 x 72 x 4 in. Floor: Ralph Gutierrez (SANTOCINO), Dialogues with a different self / nothing i do will ever be good enough but i will die trying, 2026, Wood and salt, 6 x 33 x 70 in.

by Oscar Pantaleon Jr.

Namumulaklak (blooming), a visual arts exhibition that builds on the evolving exploration of Filipinx identity in Canada, concluded its extended run at the Platform Centre for Digital + Photographic Arts on the 20^th of June.

The exhibit provided a space for artists to explore complexities of cultural memory, language, and the act of blooming within the diaspora. It was preceded by the exhibitions Katauhan (Personality) in 2023 and Seremonya (Ceremony) in 2024, which centred on self-definition and cultural practice.

Namumulaklak showcased the creativity of established and emerging Manitoba-based artists Roan Barrion, Ellina Pe Benito, Nereo, Ally Gonzalo, Ralph Gutierrez (SANTOCINO), Sharyn Gutierrez (Ryndrea), Pat Lazo, Katrina Marie Mendoza, Randy Ortiz, Amber Ramos, Paul Robles, Lourdes Still, and Leslie Supnet. Their works represent ceramic arts, painting, dyeing, video, photography, installation, music, poetry, and performance.

The cross-disciplinary program is driven by the collaborative vision of curators Antoinette Baquiran and Charles Venzon of ABCV, with the support of the Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. Both Antoinette and Charles are committed to centring Filipinx narratives within the Manitoba arts landscape.

Antoinette, who holds a master’s degree in interior design, contributes to the local arts and design scene by using identity to inform spatial design in her community-based projects. As an artist, she advocates for inclusive design and representation of the Filipinx community in creative spaces.

Charles, an award-winning interdisciplinary artist and photographer, explores the themes of migration, decolonization, and cultural repatriation. His recent work, Federal Filipina Pioneers, illuminates the legacy of Winnipeg’s early Filipina garment workers, ensuring these stories are both celebrated and preserved.

For more information on the featured artists of Namumulaklak, visit www.platformcentre.org.