This talk will discuss the curatorial concept, exhibition design, opening, and other stories surrounding the creation of the Philippine Pavilion entitled “The City Who Had Two Navels” for the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale, which ran from May to November 2018 and later restaged at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila last July to October 2019. Inspired by Filipino National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s novel, “The Woman Who Had Two Navels”, published in 1961, the Philippine Pavilion confronts the tension between the vicissitudes of the past and the challenges of constructing contemporary subjectivity. It highlights two “navels” that are in constant dialogue: the forces of colonialism and neoliberalism and how they impact and shape the Philippine built environment.

Edson G. Cabalfin, Ph.D. is currently Associate Professor in the School of Architecture and Interior Design at the University of Cincinnati. He was the Curator of the Philippine Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale 2018. He received his Ph.D. in History of Architecture and Urban Development from Cornell University. Edson’s research in the last two decades have focused on the interdisciplinary and transnational intersections of architecture history and theory, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies, postcolonial theory, Southeast Asian studies, public interest design, and heritage conservation. Aside from academia and research, Edson also runs his design consultancy Talyer Kayumanggi/Brown Workshop with multi-disciplinary projects in architecture, interior design, set design, costume design, fashion design, graphic design, and design strategy in North America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Download flyer below.

NguyetTong
ntong@international.ucla.edu

Download file: CSEAS_Nov20_Cabalfin_IEW_Flyer-53-22e.pdf

Sponsor(s): Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Asian American Studies Center, Puro Arte