Mindanao Art has officially launched its landmark exhibit at the SM Lanang Premier, featuring a decorated gallery of a thousand paintings highlighting the continuing creativity of Mindanaoan artists alongside exhibitors from Luzon, Visayas, and abroad. The exhibition’s theme is “Leaping Beyond: How Mindanao’s Creative Expressions can Reach New Heights.”
Now in its seventh year, the annual art exhibit is produced by Lawig Diwa Inc., under the leadership of Mindanaoan artist and cultural advocate Kublai Millan. It is staged in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Committee on Art Galleries (NCAG), with support from SM Lanang and other partners.
The gallery is a collaboration of 33 groups and galleries across the country, with full representation from all six regions of Mindanao. The gallery is also accompanied by talks of luminaries from various art disciplines.
The opening program featured performances by Ballet Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ resident dance company, and Teatro Ambahanon Philippines, which complemented the visual art displays and the integration of multiple art forms in the celebration.
Photo from Al Win’s Facebook Page
The event also houses art installations, including those of the Likha-Karaga Visual Art Group, made of concrete slabs that may seem like rubble from a fallen building. The satirical art installation is called “This is Where Your Taxes Go,” which refers to the continuous clamor against large-scale corruption linked to the government’s flood control projects. The installation is priced at 17.27 trillion pesos, referring to the country’s outstanding sovereign debt, which originated from a mix of domestic and foreign creditors.
Since its inception, Mindanao Art has aimed to showcase not only the diversity of Mindanaoan art but also its influence on the wider national and international art scenes. Bringing together over 1,000 artworks from different regions and disciplines, the event strengthens appreciation for Philippine creativity and cultural identity.
Mindanao Art 2025 is open to the public until October 1, 2025, at The Atrium of SM Lanang Premier.