Ayala Museum, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, presents Dambana ng Kapwa: Indigenous Spirituality as Resistance from Colonialism, an exhibition by Nueva Ecija-based visual artist Joshua Limon Palisoc. The exhibit, which runs until Dec. 1, is part of the museum’s public art program, OpenSpace, which was launched in 2015 with support from Wilcon Depot.
The installation combines various spiritual symbols from animist, Hindu, Roman, and folk Catholic traditions, illustrating the intersection of indigenous and foreign cultures. It reflects a narrative of survival and resistance through a series of sculptures made from stainless-steel wireframes and light-emitting diodes. These open-work sculptures break down the barrier between the object and the viewer, inviting deeper engagement.
At the heart of the exhibition is the Filipino concept of kapwa, which emphasizes interconnectedness and shared existence. Palisoc explains that the exhibition aims to “reclaim our deep-rooted cultural identity that fosters community, ecology, and authentic identity.”
The installation mimics a dambana (sacred space), where the spiritual and material worlds meet. The oval structure of the dambana references the balangay, an ancient Filipino water vessel associated with cosmology, trade, and warfare. Surrounding the sculptures are small white stones, symbolizing atang, traditional rice offerings made to nature spirits and ancestors.
Palisoc acknowledges that while the work is shaped by his personal experiences, the themes of struggle, desire, and healing resonate with many Filipinos. He sees Dambana ng Kapwa as a communal space for reflection, reclamation, and healing.
The exhibition explores three major planes of existence—natural, social, and individual—represented by pairs of diwatas (spirits). The light installation draws inspiration from the ancient Visayan myth of Barangaw, the rainbow war god, and the Buddhist chakra concept, assigning each sculpture a specific color based on its symbolic significance.
Palisoc, born in 1990, is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, where he earned a degree in Fine Arts in Visual Communication in 2016. His work, often centered on themes of identity, decolonization, and spirituality, has been featured in numerous group exhibitions across the Philippines and internationally. Notable exhibitions include the Pinto Underwater Sculpture Museum for Marine Ecosystem Regeneration in Currimao, Ilocos Norte, and the Significant Otherness group exhibition in Berlin, Germany. Palisoc has also been recognized in international art platforms such as My Modern Met and Colossal.
Dambana ng Kapwa offers a unique opportunity to explore Filipino spirituality through contemporary art, providing a space for dialogue on identity and cultural heritage.
