Liwanag Art Exhibit Opens at the PH Center in New York
From left: Exhibit curator Leif Miguel Martinez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. and featured artist Maria Mari Murga during the opening reception of art exhibit “Liwanag.” (Maria Murga photo)
NEW YORK 04 October 2019 — “Liwanag,” an art exhibit by renowned Filipino-Spanish artist Maria Mari Murga, was successfully launched in the evening of 24 September 2019 at the Lobby Gallery of the Philippine Center.
The opening night was attended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Brigido J.Dulay, who were all in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
US-Philippines Society director Henry B. Howard, Pintô Museum’s Luca Parolari, art enthusiasts and members of the Filipino-American community in the tri-state area likewise attended the opening ceremony.
“Liwanag” detailed Ms. Murga’s journey to the rural parts of the Philippines, portraying Filipino farmers, fishermen, and indigenous peoples going about their daily lives.
The Filipino-Spanish artist said that she used her skills to showcase the scenes and daily lives of the people and put them on spotlight for the rest of the world to discover. She hopes that her art will serve as a reminder of how vibrant and beautiful the Philippines is. Her artworks used a beautiful selection of hand carved frames from Zamboanga City.
Secretary Locsin congratulated Ms. Murga on the success of the exhibit and encouraged her to continue promoting Philippine culture and art through her works.
In response, the Filipino-Spanish artist thanked Secretary Locsin and Ambassador Romualdez for their support and for the collaboration and assistance extended by the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Center.
Ms. Murga is a Filipino-Spanish artist based in London whose roots can be traced from Zamboanga City. She’s the granddaughter of a World War II Bataan Death March survivor.
The exhibit, which was co-sponsored by the US Philippine Society and co-presented by the Philippine Center New York, is open to the public until 11 October 2019. END
From left: Mr. Martinez, Ms. Murga, Ambassador to the United States Jose G. Manuel Romualdez, and US-Philippines Society Director Henry B. Howard. ( Philippine Center New York photo)
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo (left) meets Ms. Murga (right) during the opening reception of “Liwanag.” (Philippine Center New York photo)
From left: Mr. Martinez, Vice Consul Tanya O. Ramiro, Ms. Murga, and Potri Ranka Manis during the opening reception of “Liwanag.” (Philippine Center New York photo)
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