TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 11
T
HE Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP)
is proud to take part
in the centennial cel-
ebration of National
Artist for Visual Arts
Francisco V. Coching
via the exhibition, Na-
saan Ka Na, Mara-Bini: Tracing Libera-
tion and Empowerment in the Stories
of F.V. Coching’s Rebel Daughters. The
exhibit opened on the late artist’s
100th birthday, 29 January, and may
be viewed for free by the public until
7 April 2019 at the CCP’s Pasilyo Vi-
cente Manansala (2F Hallway Gallery).
The exhibition is presented in coop-
eration with the Coching Family and
independent curator Alice Sarmiento.
The curator writes: “A rich variety of
characters and stories runs through
Coching’s work, granting the reader
a look into Coching’s ideas of where
women belonged when it came to
the everyday struggles he portrayed
in his komiks. While often possessing
stereotypically feminine traits--soft-
ness, compassion, empathy--Coch-
ing’s female characters are also allowed agency and even
militancy in choosing their battles...By asking “Nasaan ka
na, Mara-bini?” in light not only of Coching’s women, but
of the rebel daughters of today, can we possibly trace an
arc from Mara-bini’s first appearance as a potential pop
culture icon in 1941, to the leaders of contemporary fem-
inist movements? Declarations of “The future is female!”
as well as hashtags like #BabaeAko and #IamEveryWoman
can definitely find a safe space within the frames Coching
drew, in which women lifted men up with little effort, com-
manded armies, and most importantly, led movements.”
Nasaan Ka Na, Mara-Bini will also be a part of the CCP’s
Women’s Month celebration in March, and its upcoming
Performatura Festival in April. Exhibit viewing hours are
from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, and until 10pm on
days with evening performances at the CCP Main Theater.
www.culturalcenter.gov.ph
The exhibition is presented in cooperation with the Coching Family and independent
curator Alice Sarmiento. The curator writes: “A rich variety of characters and stories
runs through Coching’s work, granting the reader a look into Coching’s ideas of where
women belonged when it came to the everyday struggles he portrayed in his komiks.
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