Philippine Pavilion Opens in the Venice Architecture Biennale
Venice, 25 May 2018 --- The Philippine Pavilion to the 16th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale opened yesterday with the theme “The City Who Had Two Navels.”
National Artist and NCCA Chairperson, Virgilio Almario, headed the Philippine delegation to the vernissage, together with the visionary and principal advocate for the Philippines’ participation in the Biennale, Senator Loren Legarda.
They were joined by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, led by Philippine Ambassador to Italy, Hon. Domingo Nolasco, and Consul General in Milan, Irene Susan B. Natividad.
The curatorial work of architect Edson Cabalfin invites the audience to examine the relationship between the past and the future by focusing on the built environment as expression of self-determination and as a setting for global and transnational revolution.
As part of the exhibit, a think-tank consortium was created, comprised of future architects, planners and designers from De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde; University of San Carlos – School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design; University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Architecture; and University of the Philippines Mindanao, Department of Architecture, together with Technical Assistance Organization (TAO) Pilipinas, Inc.
In her remarks at the opening ceremony of the Philippine Pavilion, Sen Legarda said architecture “does not only contribute to the economic development of a country, it also has the strength to revitalize the society, inspire people to create livable and sustainable communities that respect history and is in communion with nature.”
The Venice Biennale for Architecture is open to the public from 26 May until 25 November 2018.
The Exhibition includes 71 participants, including 63 National Participations, in the historic Pavilions at the Giardini, at the Arsenale and in the historic city centre of Venice.
NCCA Chairperson Almario (2nd from left), Commissioner of the PH Pavilion, and Senator Legarda (4th from left) are joined by Curator Cabalfin (4th from right), Ambassador Nolasco(3rd from right), Consul General Natividad (leftmost) and other officials from the DFA.
