Following last year’s exhibit, artist Norjan Ismail Abass will have a limited run for his new exhibit “Maria: A Kaleidoscope” from July 26 to August 1 in Quezon City’s Gateway Gallery Studio.
The exhibit explores Filipina’s roles in colonial or post-colonial times and how the Filipiniana dress serves as a tool of protection, comfort or discomfort and submission or subservience.
It features the “alternative Filipiniana,” where the “kaleidoscope” refers to the diverse images of Filipinas throughout history.
In these artworks, Abass focuses on busy women hidden with their veil, salakot, side profile, and the backside perspective, that they do not look the viewer in the eye—giving off a mysterious, non-confrontational, nameless, and elusive aura.
The traditional Filipina woman is often depicted in the works of Fernando Amorsolo, whose pieces feature women bathing in rivers, selling in town plazas, and attending church.
“Maria: A Kaleidoscope” is a follow-up to Abass’ two-week exhibit “Talukbong at Tapis” in 2024.