Going Nowhere

By Manny Montelibano

Going nowhere is an exhibition composed of two art installations, Mishandled and Bolted to depend on luck. Both installations are inspired by a process of continuous questioning of existence and conditions in our society. In the Philippines, the advancement of an individual is strongly affected by cultural discrepancies, political and economic instability, family and beliefs.

Mishandled is composed of paint bucket handles tied to look like chains and droplets. The chains are group together to form lines that block direction. The installation, is a representation of elements that block aspirations, dreams, intentions, and the future. The process of tying the handles imprisons its own purpose. Since the material comes from the paint bucket handles, the result will be problems in handling the paint containers. The handles represent the living systems, tied, hanged to look pretty, but an illusion. A belief that bring our societies into failure.

At the end of the room, is a five-channel video installation, Bolted to depend on luck, is inspired by a Slot Machine. Each monitor shows images of candidates running for government positions in the 2022 Philippine elections. The intention is to have a perfect combination of images as well as hoping for a perfect combination of leaders. The videos also include tropical fruits found in the Philippines and the sound of a slot machine. Like gambling, the probability to win is less, like the elections, the probability of having a good Philippine government is small. In the current scenario, the people is bolted to depend on luck.

Both works, confront the current dysfunctional civilization and value the persistence to survive.