Artistic Talents of Filipino HSWs on Display in Hong Kong

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales expresses appreciation to the organizers of Beyond Myself, an international art exhibition featuring the works of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) in Hong Kong and London, at the opening reception held on 26 April 2018 at The Hive Spring near Wong Chuk Hang MTR in South Island District. (Photo credit: Raul Benjamin Puentespina/Enrich HK)

HONG KONG 07 May 2018 – An exhibition highlighting the creative talent of Filipino migrant workers opened at a gallery on 26 April 2018, thanks to the efforts of academic institutions and nonprofit groups in Great Britain and Hong Kong and with the support and participation of the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.

Beyond Myself, an international art exhibition featuring works of Filipino worker-artists in London and Hong Kong, is organized to run until 14^th of May at The Hive Spring near Wong Chuk Hang MTR by Enrich HK after successful runs at Goldsmiths, University of London and UP Vargas Museum in Quezon City, Philippines.

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales thanked Enrich HK for organizing the event that provides Hong Kong expatriates and locals “a rare opportunity” to appreciate the more than 200,000 Filipino household service workers (HSWs) beyond their contribution to the territory’s economy.

“If you look at their artworks, you will get an idea not only of what they do for work, but you will also see a part of where they come from, the culture they bring with them, their priorities, and their values,” said Mr. Morales, suggesting that such awareness will lead to greater sympathy and understanding for their situation.

In her opening remarks, Enrich HK Executive Director Lucinda Pike paid tribute to Filipino domestic helpers for being “an integral part of our lives, caring for our homes, children and elderly.” The exhibition explores their contributions to society and sacrifices for their families through language, images and objects that are produced in their daily lives, she added.

The visual images featured in the exhibition were produced through artistic workshops organized by the Curating Development programme of Goldsmiths, University of London for the worker-artists with the help of workers’ empowerment charity Enrich HK in Hong Kong, Kanlungan Filipino Consortium and Filipino Domestic Workers Association in London.

The exhibition also features artwork and films by award-winning Filipino artist Nathalie Dagmang, the Hong Kong-based domestic worker artist collective Guhit Kulay, and the rights organization Voices of Women Media (VOW Media).

The Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK, provided funding for Beyond Myself, with additional contributions from the British Academy project Big Data, Live Methods and Surveillance Subjectivities. It also received support from the Scalabrini Migration Center, The University of Hong Kong’s Department of Sociology, and Keele University.

Founded in 2007, Enrich HK is a partner of the Philippine Consulate General in promoting financial literacy, capacity building and outreach programs among thousands of Filipinos in the territory. END

For more information, visit www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHK/

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales (4^th from left) congratulates with Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza the team of Enrich HK, a local non-profit group advocating the empowerment of migrant workers: Tynna Mendoza, Senior Programme Manager; Lenlen Mesina, Senior Advise; Daisy Dic Sze Tam, Board Chair; and Lucinda Pike, Executive Director (2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th from left) at The Hive Spring near Wong Chuk Hang MTR in South Island District on 26 April 2018. (Photo credit: Raul Benjamin Puentespina/Enrich HK)

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales (center) and Enrich HK Senior Adviser Lenlen Mesina listen to Dr Mark Johnson, professor of the Department of Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London at the opening reception of Beyond Myself on 26 April 2018. Dr Johnson is the Principal Investigator of Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded research project Curating Development project (2016-18) that investigates Filipino migrants’ contributions to development. (Photo credit: Raul Benjamin Puentespina/Enrich HK)

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales and Consul Paul V. Saret pose for a snap at the opening reception held on 26 April 2018 at The Hive Spring near Wong Chuk Hang MTR with artists featured in Beyond Myself, members of the Hong Kong-based domestic worker artist collective Guhit Kulay, and Enrich HK Board Chair Daisy Dic Sze Tam (1^st from left), who focuses on migrant domestic workers, particularly Filipino migrant women in Hong Kong. In her research at the Department of Humanities and Creative Writing at the Hong Kong Baptist University. (Photo credit: Raul Benjamin Puentespina/Enrich HK)