︎ Mervy Pueblo


Sculptor, Art Educator
Manila, Philippines
translated by Peng Wu



At the moment, I am just going through the motions, but I have put more careful attention to the needs of my loved ones. Like many, since this current epidemic we went through series adjustments in life and tried to create a semblance of normalcy even if we were left by our government to economically fend off for ourselves. In this time when many jobs are being lost, and commissioned works being cancelled or has become limited which I have personally experienced, I am thankful I was offered my previous full-time job back in a university as this brings comfort to my family.

Being ranked as middle-class by our government, we were ineligible for the monthly COVID-19 financial aid despite being part of the workforce of the country. In hindsight, the disservice of our local government has been ever-present since the Cory Aquino administration so it came as no surprise that most Filipino's have given up any fight. Also, our culture is commonly known for being too tolerant, from my personal observation I think this is due to the enfeebling Catholic upbringing of not questioning authority folded with the teaching that the after life is more important than the present.

It is great that the national, and local government (allegedly) is taking care of the non-taxpayers and/or from the lower bracket of society by providing them monthly financial aid. However, one can be tempted to question political agenda. It is known that the majority of voters come from that community, and the trapo's still believe that the attention and opinions of this majority can still be easily manipulated through little cash the trapo's would wave at them. But with this pandemic, perhaps there is an on-going awakening within this community after seeing how badly their locality is governed very poorly by the same people who bought their votes.

As an artist, I have thought about how I can address concerns of my community through the language of art. But as I observe, art isn't an immediate need in my community: survival and security is paramount. In my country, I feel that the best time to get support for socially engaged art projects is when everyone gets a better sense of "new normal." Moreover, I don't wish to lead a project when I, myself, is having an existential insecurity due this pandemic. For now, I try to be content by the financial stability that my full time work gives me, even if it means having just bits of time to create. But I recognize that this responsibility to be a full-time art educator is maybe the cultural contribution that I can give for my country.



︎ 梅尔夫•普埃布罗


雕塑家 艺术教育家
马尼拉 菲律宾



在当下的阶段,在各种变动不居中我会更多的关注我所爱人们的需求。这次疫情危机以来,我们也和许多人一样经历了生活中各种各样的变化和调整,希望可以建立一种新的“正常”感。尽管我们的政府无所作为在经济上让我们自生自灭。目前大量的失业,我个人也经历了许多委托艺术项目被取消或者消减。我很幸运的重新得到我之前做过的一份工作职位,这让我的家人很欣慰。

我们一家因为被政府划分为中产阶层,所以我们没办法得到每月的新冠疫情补贴金,尽管我们是这个国家重要劳动力组成。科拉松·阿基诺(第十一任菲律宾总统)执政以来,在政府的各种恶劣作为影响下人民已经放弃了一切对抗。同时,我们国家的文化过于宽容妥协。我个人认为这来自于天主教的成长环境让人们从不质疑权威。人们常常寄希望于死后天堂而不是关注现世生活。

据报道称,国家和地方政府给不交税的这部分低收入公民每月补助金。但我们不难想像背后的政治意图。 众所周知,大部分的选民来自这个人群,统治阶层仍然相信向这群人挥舞一点点钞票,这群人就会很轻易的被洗脑。但是因为这次疫情,让这个群体看到了收买他们选票的政务的无能治理,而逐渐开始觉醒。

我也思考过作为一个艺术家怎样可以回应我所在的社群的忧虑。但当我仔细观察我的社群,艺术并不是他们所急需的:生存和安全是第一位的需求。在我的国家,我认为支持社群艺术的最好时机是当所有人都更好的理解了“新常态”的意义时。目前对于疫情,我自己仍然感到一种存在主义意义上的不安,这个时候我不觉得会想开展一个艺术项目。在当下的阶段,我尝试满足于目前我的全职工作给我带来的生活稳定感,即使这意味着我只能有零碎的时间来做自己的创作。但我意识到也许从事这份全职艺术教育工作正是我能够为这个国家做出的文化贡献。

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