Flyer design by Eduardo Daza Taylor IV
Lumayo Ka Sa Araw (Stay Away from the Sun) is a multi-disciplinary work by KKSILOG – interdisciplinary artist collaborative Kim Requesto and Kim Acebo Arteche – that explores themes of healing generational trauma from within their matriarchal lineages through (temporary) installation, photography, video projection, and dance. Informed by dance ritual movement in their respective trainings in Black vernacular dance (street dance) and Philippine folkloric dance, KKSILOG weaves together reflective dialogue between the experiences of their mothers and grandmothers with their present-day experiences of colonial beauty standards, colorism, self-worth, productivity, and internalized capitalism.
For this work, I was thinking a lot about photos of Filipina women from the past, particularly how they’ve been perceived through the white/orientalist gaze in anthropological photographs – as both objects of desire and the exotic other. I also thought about BDSM power dynamics, and the idea of having total agency over oneself even within the act of submission/surrender. I wanted to reclaim the power in these historical images by incorporating elements of colonial-era attire and traditional Filipino garments mixed with bondage elements like harnesses and shibari rope.
Styling & terno sleeves by Stephanie Gancayco
Photography by Jamie Cardenas
Hair & Makeup by Jasmine Cardenas
Models: Kim Acebo Arteche and Kim Requesto
Jewelry by Barbara Lee