Alay sa ating ninuno at mga naunang dumating sa atin | For those who came before us, a solo exhibition by Narita Reyes Ico

EXHIBITION | 6 September - 2 November, 2024 OPENING RECEPTION | 7PM - 9PM on 6 September, 2024 Alay sa ating ninuno at mga naunang dumating sa atin / For those who came before us is a solo exhibition by Vancouver-based, Filipina artist Narita Reyes Ico. Inspired by her personal family photo collection, ancestral practices that span from Mountain Mariveles to the Philippine Sea are reimagined through textile weaving, hand drawn vignettes, and block printing. To envision a landscape inspired by pre-colonial histories and present-day traditions is an acknowledgement to the generations before us and an extension of gratitude to those who taught us. Alay sa ating ninuno at mga naunang dumating sa atin / For those who came before us is an invitation to give thanks to our ancestors, to appreciate the environment that sustains our practices, and to continue in the sharing of our stories. BIOGRAPHY Narita is a Filipina artist currently living and learning as a guest on the unceded and ancestral land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people where she studies as a Master of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Dual Degree student at the University of British Columbia. She is a recipient of the IOC IPC IAKS Bronze Medal Architecture & Design Award for Young Professionals 2021 for her conceptual design of an accessible recreational facility center. When not engaged in her studies or professional responsibilities, she enjoys spending her time outdoors or with her loved ones. As the daughter of two parents from the archipelago known today as the Philippines, her experiences in her ancestral village of Saysain, Bagac, Bataan serve as the foundational inspiration for her work. Traditional practices, cultural teachings, and oral histories help weave, paint, and photograph her and her family’s stories. Narita’s art originated from the desire to deepen her cultural roots and over time have evolved into a celebration of the Philippine spirit.