“Tiw-tiwong” is a spirit that has gone awry and astray but is destined to come home.
The Ifugao term for the journeying spirit lends its name to the exhibition and “Uncyclopedia” book that explore the known and unknown, as well as the celebrated, notorious and misunderstood aspects of art, history and culture from Baguio and the Cordilleras in northern Philippines.
The wondering and wandering “Tiw-Tiwong” surveys subjects such as the bustling ukay-ukay (second-hand clothing) trade, the changing face of the bul-ul, the truth about dog-eating and so many more, while drawing upon an inheritance of indigenous knowledge and practices, such as traditional hand-tapped tattooing and woodcarving. Irreverent and defiant, it is an ‘anti-textbook’ antidote to more than a century of colonial (mis)representations and institutional studies of Baguio and the Cordilleras.
This major and wide-ranging exhibition accompanies the Singapore book launch of “Tiw-tiwong: An Uncyclopedia to Life, Living, and Art in Baguio, the Cordilleras, and Beyond”. A multi-pronged, multi-layered collaborative art book including 950+ entries by more than 40 artists and writers, the publication delves into the life extra-ordinary and un-ordinary in the Cordilleras.
Telling the Tale of Baguio & the Cordilleras: An Uncyclopedia Comes Into Being
Artist & Writers’ Roundtable & Short Film Screening
Gajah Gallery Singapore
12 Oct 2024, Saturday | 2.30 – 5.00 PM
Rocky Cajigan, Frank Cimatu, Kawayan de Guia, Tommy Hafalla, Kidlat Tahimik & Joyce Toh
Free Admission | RSVP Required
The Perfumed Nightmare: Screening and Talk by Kidlat Tahimik
Objectifs Workshop Space
13 Oct 2024, Sunday | 12.20 – 3.00pm
Screening rating: PG
Free Admission | RSVP Required
The Perfumed Nightmare is a semi-autobiographical fable that tells the story of a young Filipino born in 1942 (during the Occupation), his awakening to, and reaction against, American cultural colonialism. In his small village, Kidlat dreams of Cape Canaveral and listens to the Voice of America; he’s even the president of his village’s Werner Von Braun fan club. The idiosyncratic style of the film is one of its kind and it is not to be missed.
The screening is followed by an artist talk by filmmaker and artist Kidlat Tahimik.
About Kidlat Tahimik
Kidlat Tahimik is a filmmaker and artist based in the Philippines. Widely regarded as the father of Philippines independent cinema, his works are celebrated for their explorative and critical approach towards colonialism, cultural identity, and neocolonial impacts. Tahimik’s films often blend narrative and documentary styles, employing a whimsical yet poignant aesthetic that challenges Western cinematic norms and narratives. Notable works include “The Perfumed Nightmare” (1977) and “Turumba” (1983), which have been shown internationally, including at prestigious venues such as the Berlin International Film Festival, where “Perfumed Nightmare” won the International Critics’ Prize.
Film screening in partnership and hosted by
