Elisa Tan: Container of Distance brings the body of work of the late Filipino-Chinese conceptual artist to Space63 Comuna in the City of Makati.
The show is part of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Commons, a project by the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) that aims to bring contemporary art programming to a wider audience and encourage creative exchange and curatorial dialogue.
Tan, who studied in Manila before spending a decade in the United States and Europe, gained recognition in the 1970s for her large-scale paintings. After moving to Paris in the 1980s, she developed a following for her conceptual work merging text, image, and daily life. Her “envelope” series—which she described as “containers for thought”—explored color, abstraction, and the subtle power of small-scale art.
which she describes as ‘containers for thought’
that reflects her exploration of abstraction
and everyday spirituality
A spiritual crisis later led Tan to withdraw from public artmaking. She converted to Christianity and lived quietly in Baguio, where she passed away. Her works are now preserved by her estate.
The exhibition revisits Tan’s archive and presents a “poetic constellation” of her ideas and artistic evolution.
In conjunction with the exhibit, a talk featuring scholar-curator Dr. Maria Cristina Juan and art lecturer Dr. Flaudette May Datuin was held on Oct. 11. Juan, a faculty member at SOAS University of London, focuses on transnational Philippine cultural studies and ethical restitution. Datuin, from the University of the Philippines Diliman, specializes in art theory, gender studies, and art and healing.
Elisa Tan: Container of Distance will run until Nov. 16. Viewing hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, except holidays. Admission is free.
