Filipino identity and migration explored in New York art exhibition
The exhibition "DAYO: Footprints and Dialogue" opened at the Philippine Center in New York, bringing together a range of media to probe what it means to be Filipino in a global metropolis.
Curated by visual artist and interior designer Karol Ann Antonio, the show is framed by two questions about Filipino identity and its feeling in New York. Antonio’s own series of ten paintings interprets the city’s skyline, using acrylic and oil pastel to map the hustle of streets against personal memory.
A striking textile installation reimagines New York’s verticality through traditional Philippine weaving, drawing on fabrics from the traveling show "Habi: Discovering Possibilities for Philippine Fibers". The work weaves together color and pattern to suggest how immigrant footprints leave lasting marks.
Self‑taught New York artist Citadel Muñoz‑Cruz contributes embroidered denim pieces and photographs that embed Baybayin script and hand‑woven textiles from Inabel, Binakol, Kalinga and Yakan traditions. Her pieces juxtapose contemporary city scenes with timeless craft, underscoring dialogue between past and present.
Overall, the exhibition positions migration as both a temporary step and a lasting impression, using contrast, juxtaposition, and paradox to show how Filipino presence reshapes and is reshaped by the urban fabric of New York.