Kulay Labitigan

Inspired by a Philippine folkloric epic poem of Ibong Adarna, this artwork features the most colourful Filipino mythical bird. Its story revolves around the three princes searching for the mystic bird named Adarna hoping to bring life to their dying ill king father. This vibrant piece is an attempt to illustrate an imaginary kaleidoscopic tropical rainforest, creating a fictional merry place inhabited by people of diverse backgrounds and home to this contemporary bird. It employs various Filipino textile patters overlaid on the whole piece as celebration of a festive and abundant life informed of heritage, history, and memories. Installed in London and conceived during the time of COVID, the artwork is a riff on Filipino migrant’s concept of bird, ruminating the ideas of flight, migration, diaspora, healing, and home. This is a visual allegory for Filipinos and for every people of colour in this matter who have left the other side to build their nests here, in order to create a life in service. This artwork is in some ways a homage to every Filipino health professionals, care givers, and domestic support workers who showered this great city of London Kalinga (hospitality) and Aruga (care) contributing to make sure that life continues in our beautiful city despite the pandemic.

Living away from the motherland helps one to look at things in perspective, especially the last two years. Making this timely commission for a Filipino restaurant relish the narrative that at the core of every migrant’s hearts is about growing their pair of wings to sore and reach for their stars, in honour and support of their families and bring pride to wherever in the globe is home. Such is vivid parallelism to the myth of Ibong Adarna as well as the essence of this newest dining concept called Kasa and Kin (Home and Family)- a place for sharing, socialising, celebration, and festivity.

As the maker of this work, I grew up with the notion that family is most often defined by blood relations. But residing oceans away from my own blood, I learn that especially for most Filipinos overseas, Family are the people we choose to be and celebrate life with. So, it is my fervent hope that may this artwork be a reminder that they could be whatever they want to be and still belong.

This artwork is commissioned by Kasa and Kin by Romulo situated in the center of Soho. It serves contemporary Filipino flavours to Londoners which is a bakery and patisserie at day, fast-casual at lunch, and bar restaurant with robata grill at night. This changing concept is aimed to excite perceptions about Philippine cuisine as they shift from traditional to innovative and thrilling take on Philippine gastronomy

"Thoroughly washed. Forcefully scrubbed. Tightly wringed. Beaten ‘til clean.

Being gay is a stain that smears a fabric that was ought to be pure. But in this exhibition, the expression of the authentic self is a revelation of things buried deep in the hamper.

It is a clothesline—one of remembrance where not only your cape hangs, but also the intricately woven fabric of your suppressed fantasies, flirtations, fragility, freedom; the antithesis to your sealed shut doors, monsters ‘neath your bed, and the confinement of the uncomfortable closet you took comfort in. A space where the frisky skipping of your heart is laid bare.

Seven years after exploring the other side of the world, Kulay Labitigan packs in his suitcase this colorful “Shrine of Banners”, which he zealously waves, not on top, but at the foot of Mt. Banahaw. Together with his craft and artistry, he carries with him a homecoming gift—a souvenir preciously made from scraps of memories, transported through a passport of aspirations." (Text by Eljay Deldoc Translated by Drew Espenocilla)

This exhibition is a warm hug to my young self and to all the little gay boys who are in their odyssey of being at peace to their authentic selves. I want this opportunity to be a validation of their existence that nothing is wrong, and everything gets better. With the show being accessed by the locals, it aims to serve an affirmation or at very least use creativity as a mediator of the dialogue about our similarities and differences as member of one community. By utilising this platform to present an almost autobiographical narrative, I wish to contribute in pushing the conversation forward especially in my beautiful hometown. Because I firmly believe that one of the real value of healing when it comes to identity, diversity, inclusivity, and acceptance is that it lays a solid foundation that gives everyone the licence to dream.