A caravan of ox-pulled carts such as this was once a familiar sight in the urban areas.The Alliance française de Manille under its new director opens its doors once again to Filipino artists as it hosts its first event after renovations to the building, and also in time for the visit to the Philippines of the Alliance française Foundation’s secretary general, Jean-Claude Jacq.
“Vanishing Point” is an exhibition of 40 black-and-white photos taken by ABS-CBN.com’s deputy editor for multimedia, Fernando Sepe Jr., documenting the travel from Pangasinan to Manila of ox-pulled carts containing hand-crafted wood and basket-woven wares that used to be common place in the streets of Manila.
Running until November 28, Vanishing Point will be the first exhibit since renovations were made early this year. Alliance française now boasts of two extra floors to accommodate more classrooms for students learning the French language, a multi-purpose hall for events, and a renovated theater that shows French films through its weekly ciné club and a venue for screening Filipino films as part of the network of cinémathèques of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Under the leadership of its new director, Patrick Deyvant, who arrived last month after ending his post as director of Alliance française de Medellin in Colombia, Alliance française de Manille is poising itself to become a point de rencontre for French and Filipino artists and their artworks.
“If the primary mission of the Alliance française is to promote the French language, it should serve also as a cultural center in its own right not only for the promotion of French culture, but of Philippine culture as well,” explained Deyvant. “Vanishing Point fulfills an obligation to remember and reflect on the evolution of the urban space of Manila and its relation to the ‘rurality’ that constitutes its unique landscape.”
Vanishing Point is curated by Susan De Guzman and Giselle Kasilag, with the support of the Embassy of France to the Philippines and co-produced by Project Art.
Source: http://goo.gl/Q0ACmV
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