The Filipino artist Kidlat Tahimik’s exhibition is as interesting as his life story. The artist, whose real name is Eric Oteyza de Guia, voluntarily changes his name to Kidlat Tahimik that means ‘silent lightning’. He studies Economy and Business in the US, works in finance in France; until his life takes a different path; being disappointed by the capitalist system he starts to work as an actor, film producer, performance artist and writer. Today he’s a renowned artist whose works won several awards such as in Berlinale and Prince Claus Laureate; his work in Sharjah Biennial was praised by the most important art critics.
This installation inside Retiro Park’s Cristal Palace in Madrid is due to the fifth hundredth year of Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Wooden boats, the sculptures of indigenous people, neon lights, several mis-en-scenes of the colonial war inspired by the scenes in his movies is chaotic and impressive. One feels like she’s in a movie set reading the pages of the history books that tell the story of indigenous people’s resistance.
This prestigious art space had previously hosted world-known artists such as Doris Salcedo, Jaume Plensa, Dans Vo. Tahimik joins them with this impressive exhibition.