Source: Singapore Art Museum
Thrice Upon A Time invites viewers on a journey filled with the stories and art of the Philippines, an adventure spanning over a hundred years. The Philippines has a rich tradition of storytelling, with stories from her pre-colonial past to present-day tales, and this exhibition presents the epic story of the country and her people through visual art. The role of the artist-as-storyteller is highlighted within this exhibition and ideas about representation, authenticity, identity and history of the nation and its people are explored. Playing with the classic line that begins those familiar stories, “Once upon a time”, the show suggests that the best stories are told over and over again. The exhibition presents works from the Philippine grand masters to some of her most exciting contemporary artists, including Fernando Amorsolo, Carlos ‘Botong’ Francisco, Ben Cabrera, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Charlie Co and Geraldine Javier. Audiences will also have the exceptional opportunity to see two of Philippines’ most iconic and legendary masterworks, from Juan Luna and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, and a rarely seen painting by the Philippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal. There are eight sections in Thrice Upon A Time: Epic of a Nation, Magic Realities, Chronicles of Faith, Myths, Legends and Folktales, Largerthan- Life, Filipina: Romancing the Heroine, The Tale Untold and A Poem Painted.

In the Eye of Modernity presents the Neo-Realist Masterworks from the renowned Ateneo Art Gallery in Philippines. The landmark exhibition revolves around what many art historians consider to be one of the most important junctures in the development of modern visual art in the Philippines, the socalled Philippine Art Gallery years from 1950 to 1964. It presents major works from post-war modernists such as Arturo Luz, Vicente Manasala, Jose Joya, HR Ocampo and Cesar Legaspi. The exhibition is co-organised by the Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore, the Ateneo de Manila University on its 150th Anniversary, and the Singapore Art Museum.

Says Director, Singapore Art Museum, Mr. Tan Boon Hui, “Both shows, Thrice Upon A Time and In the Eye of Modernity presents the best of Philippine Art in the last 100 years. Thrice Upon a Time itself takes a contemporary look at the very old notions of stories and storytelling in the Philippines, and highlights the role of the artist as the storyteller. In the Eye of Modernity gives local audiences a sense of this period in Philippine art that broke with the past and set the tone for the future. Emphasis is given to the Neo-Realists school of thought.”