Q & A for artist Mideo Cruz. (an online interview)
1) What do you mean by “neo-liberal economy”?
I’m referring to the prevailing methodology used by most of our world economist who were mostly educated in Chicago School of Economics under their guru Milton Friedman. It is an approach based on neo classical economy in liberalizing trade. Some experiments were started in Chile after the Sept 11 incident when Milton Friedman became an economic consultant of Pinochet. The “Chicago Boys” tried to reform the economy from the nationalization program of Allende. Presently China is showing their adherence to that method.
In my work I use these signifiers from pop culture, company logos and scrap materials from multinational products. Other jargons that may used are consumerism, free trade and globalization.
2) In an ABSCBN interview you said, “Hindi mo maiiwasan na kapag nagpo-provoke ka o naglalabas ka ng ideya, e may mga tatamaan” – I’m sure you somehow knew that you could be hitting some sectors that might feel offended. Can you describe how you feel today?
From the recent forum in CCP I feel that some people are a century (or more) behind. I thought we are only far behind for a decade or so but I was surprised that some people would argue that their standard of beauty is taken from Thomas Aquinas or their basis of contemporary aesthetics is from Luna and Hidalgo or a bit later, Amorsolo.
I think people should behave in harmony with contemporary developments.
The images presented in my work for “Kulo” are what we are creating subconsciously in our culture. We need to realize that it is the mirror of our society and of ourselves. The uproar it created might be the unconscious denial of seeing ourselves truthfully in the mirror. The realities in our society is the real blasphemy of our own image; the blasphemy of our sacred self. Sadly it seems that we don’t want to consciously look into ourselves, we rather ignore or deny it.
3) Can you describe the history of Poleteismo? In your exhibition note it was mentioned that the work began in 2002. How did you come up with the idea? What was your intention? Has your intention remained the same from 2002?
Several version of “Poleteismo” was already shown in various venues, first 2002 for the exhibition entitled “Hardware” in UP Vargas Museum under the curation of Jose Tence Ruiz. That time I did it with a live action during the opening, I sat in a wheelchair holding a light bulb plugged to an electrical outlet in the shape of the cross on the wall together with the collage of various images. The second time I did it is in a music video in 2007 where I was asked by my friend Director Sig Barros Sanchez to do the production design. Third is in 2007 for the group show tutoK Nexus, also curated by Jose Tence Ruiz where I also include some pieces from my one man show in 2005 at Kulay Diwa Art Galleries like the “poon”, “altar” and a fragment of “relic”. And lastly the one in CCP under the curatorial guidance of Jay Pacena where I include some pieces from previous installations and live actions like the phallic. Also included again are some works from the Kulay Diwa exhibition like the “Relic”, “Poon” and “Altar”.
The show in Kulay Diwa was featured in a Spanish television Telecingko. Similarly inspired projects were done in Zurich, Switzerland; Taipei, Taiwan; Sardinia, Italy; Hong Kong; China and; Vancouver, Canada.
I grew up seeing my mother posting all our family pictures, certificates, and medals on the walls of our house. Similar things I see in our neighbors’ houses -- posters, calendars, politicians, celebrities, etc. adorning their walls. So I tried to recreate the idea behind these things in the same aesthetic manner. I see it as a methodology how people show their accomplishments, connections, attachments and devotion. It is also a subtle way on how we want us to be cognized or be seen on the surface. So this is a sort of reflection; mere representations of things we see of ourselves --- how we build ourselves through our idols and worships vis-avis how these things have shaped and molded us.
The basic concept of “Poleteismo” is still the same but the work is constantly changing both in concept and in form. In the present setup in CCP you can look in the center of the relic (cross) and you will see literally your own reflection from the convex mirror attached to it and the wall collage behind you, which is figuratively another reflection…this is to denote the continuous cycle of history. One signifier that has been newly adopted in my piece is the symbol for “source of power”. At the UP Vargas Museum in 2002 I initially signified power with the use of a line of electrical sockets shaped into a cross and installed light bulbs all over the wall which was plugged to the “electric cross”.
This time in CCP I used the phallic to denote power, a symbolism that could be attributed to patriarchy and feudalism.
I feel that some people just want to look at the surface -- they forgot that some of the phallic wore election wrist bands to symbolize political power. (a lot of them though went missing after the opening)
4) Have you always used religious images in your work? It seems that your work used up a lot of catholic imagery, something like 60% of the installation was made with such. Does this mean that on a personal level, religion has been a strong experience for you?
Religion plays a big part of our history. We cannot escape it after 300+ years of Spanish colonization. It plays a big part in the formation of our culture as Filipinos. It is unavoidable not to include these images if we tackle subjects concerning our society.
5) Apparently Catholic imagery has lost it spiritual power over you, reducing it to mere objects of idolatry. When did this spiritual transformation happen to you? Can you describe your current religious views?
I was raised as a Catholic, part of the 80% Catholics in the country. I grew up believing in Sta. Claus like everyone else. But as you grow up you gain more knowledge about the world you live in. You learn about things that separate myth from reality.
Re: CCP closes gallery with controversial artwork
Originally Posted by Norad-II
hehehe...yes bro. ana jud na padung kung molusot jud ka!
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