MARK SALVATUS MOUNTS TRIBUTE TO MOUNT BANAHAW IN VENICE BIENNALE

(SPOT.ph) The 60th iteration of the Venice Biennale opens this Saturday, April 20, in Venice, Italy. In the past week, Filipino art followers, patrons, collectors, gallerists and other industry figures have made their way to the national pavilions, primarily situated in the city's Giardini parkland area. But the most important Pinoy there at the moment is intermedia artist Mark Salvatus who represents the Philippines in the months-long exhibition.

This year’s edition, dubbed "Foreigners Everywhere," underscores the event's objective of spotlighting artists from "diverse and historically marginalized backgrounds." And Mark has mounted a show called "Kabilang-tabing ng panahong ito" which can be viewed alongside those of artists from around the world.

An homage to Lucban at Venice Biennale

Mark's works at the Venice Biennale, easily one of the largest and most prestigious cultural exhibitions in the world, pay homage to his roots, particularly to two icons identified with his hometown of Lucban, Quezon. The title of the exhibition, translated as "Behind the curtain of this age," is lifted from a phrase by Hermano Pule, the Filipino religious leader who revolted against the Spanish clergy during Spain’s occupation of the Philippines. The other icon Mark is honoring is Mount Banahaw, a volcano shrouded with myth and located at the boundary of Laguna and Quezon Provinces. He tells SPOT.ph the goal was to create installation pieces that evoke themes of history, mysticism, and rediscovery.

"Kasi Mount Banahaw became his [Pule] place to hide from the Spaniards. It becomes the witness of their revolt," Mark says. "[The work is] a complex introspection on different elements about the mountain. But I want it not to be a straightforward representation. I want it to be an abstraction in the context of contemporary [art], kasi I'm not a historian."

Visitors to the Philippine pavilion will experience Mark's installation art and watch a 16-minute video that has sound elements recorded with the assistance of a marching band—to convey the message of "journey" and the process of self-discovery. Mark adorns the space with boulders that emit music "recorded by musicians," forest sounds and even human sounds like a cough and a sneeze.

"Wandering around the mountain—because the mountain also talks—can be also an idea of searching… the mountain also represents something deeper. When you view the mountain, it's a different perspective from afar; from inside, the perspective is also different. You cannot see anymore the mountain itself," says Mark. "Parang the context of being lost, being confused. So I think the video also, because it's not a narrative video, you don't need to finish it. Parang you don't need to start it and finish it. You can stop, you can go back. So it's not like the idea of film, or storytelling; it's more on the experience itself."

The artist on his Venice Biennale experience

Mark has been in Venice for a month. It's his first time to attend the Biennale and says the feeling of being there, specifically during the pre-opening event, was overwhelming. He says the best part about mounting the show is the collaborative process, working alongside musicians, forest rangers, school children, and curator Carlos Quijon, to bring his vision to life. 

On a more personal note, working on the project allowed him to reconnect with his hometown in a meaningful, deeper level. "I'm now living in Quezon City, but the spirit of the Banahaw is still with me. So it's kind of like reminding me that you still have a place to go back to," he says. "It's the idea of you need to hold on to something and no one can take it away from you."

2024-04-19T12:08:19Z dg43tfdfdgfd