Marites Van Vianen, a Filipino artist and 2023 and 2024 Leonardo Da Vinci Awardee, is honoring her Mangyan heritage through her exhibition Katribu: Kapwa Pilipino at the ongoing NCCA exhibition in Intramuros, Manila.
Van Vianen has also received a Bronze award in 2022 and a Silver award in 2024 from the Academique Art Science et Lettres in Paris and is a member of the Société des Artistes Indépendants at the Grand Palais, Paris.
The exhibition features artworks that pay tribute to Indigenous peoples, including the renowned Kalinga tattoo artist Whang-Od and the Mangyan Tribe of Mindoro.
In addition to her NCCA exhibition, Van Vianen participated in the “La Mode en Moi – The Fashion in Me” art and fashion exhibition at the Business Art Fair in Paris from Oct. 18 to 20, alongside 24 Filipino artists from around the world.
October is recognized as Indigenous Month, and Whang-Od, a living cultural treasure, embodies the spirit of “katribu” and “kapwa,” according to Van Vianen. As the oldest traditional Kalinga tattoo artist, she continues to pass down the ancient art of “batok” to younger generations.
“The theme of the exhibition, ‘Katribu, Kapwa Pilipino,’ emphasizes living in the spirit of shared identity and caring for fellow tribes in the Philippines,” Van Vianen said.
