So much of history that is taught is missing the critical nuance and voices from the past that more fully capture what happened. This erasure seems to be especially pronounced regarding colonization and those colonized. Many nations and ethnicities were subject to often brutal periods of colonization, then had their stories taken from them, leaving a historical account from the viewpoint of the so-called victors that often fails to shed light on injustice.
Filipinx artist Maia Cruz Palileo seeks to reclaim the forgotten past complexities of colonization in the Philippines through their artwork. The Philippines has experienced lengthy periods of colonization, with Spanish control lasting over 300 years, followed by Japanese occupation during World War II, and the U.S. seizing control for decades afterward. During each of these periods, the Filipino people were subject to cultural erasure as existing structures were overturned and disregarded by colonial forces. The U.S. has often characterized its presence in the Philippines as benevolent and uplifting, but in doing so it has sought to control a narrative that belongs with the Filipino people. Cruz Palileo recognizes this friction and explores it, resurfacing what has remained hidden, in their exhibit “SATOR ROTAS” now on display at David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles.
Meeting the Artist
For the Brooklyn-based artist, these stories are in their blood. A child of immigrants, Cruz Palileo’s work incorporates the rich oral traditions of stories passed down from generations into their paintings, installations, and sculptures. They combine these memories with cultural imagination, producing artwork to share previously hidden stories.
In the artist’s own words, their “paintings infuse these narratives with memory and care. Figures appear and disappear in lush landscapes, domestic interiors, and colonial structures. Deep blues and reds suggest dark realms where superstition, myth, and history blur. Evoking a hybrid sense of place, they serve as metaphors for migration and assimilation.” Using multiple mediums and improvisational methods, their work captures the spontaneity and essence of the rich cultural elements.
The “SATOR ROTAS” Exhibit
With the exhibit immediately selling out on its opening day at the David Kordansky Gallery, the “SATOR ROTAS” collection displays this reclaimed cultural history that Cruz Palileo describes. Following a trek to their homeland in the mountains just outside of Manila, the artist was inspired by the journey and sought to create pieces that could document the history and the vibrant landscapes of the Philippines.
Mimicking the richly tangled forests of their homeland, the oil on canvas pieces are imbued with an animalistic spirit, flora, and fauna deeply connected to the land and the spirit of the Philippines. Whereas previously, Cruz Palileo’s work had captured the spirit of the land as told to them, this collection represents their lived experience in retracing the migratory route of their family, vividly capturing the stunning landscapes through a deeply personal lens.
Quiet Echoes of the Past
Describing their return to the Philippines, Cruz Palileo relays that this trip was quieter, and perhaps more introspective than previous returns. In the exhibit, the artist seeks to convey this reflection and interplay of the past with the present, “where ghosts and symbols hover in a state of in-between.” With a state of in-between often the sentiment of diaspora, Cruz Palileo’s work sparks the conversation between the here and now, the past, and what was lost. Through their painting, these specters of the past are revitalized and brought to the forefront, with Cruz Palileo quietly beckoning us to listen once again.
