Some of the most destructive phenomena in nature are results of contradiction. A storm is created by opposing currents, fluctuations in temperature and pressure; its power comes from colliding forces which create hurricanes, typhoons, or whirlpools. Like in nature, there are societal storms, borne out of the uneven terrain of society, a product of power struggles shaped by politics, the economy and by culture. These storms are the conditions and realities of Philippine life and the themes of Social Realism.

Social Realist art brings afloat struggles that have been drowned out; it becomes a means to reiterate issues in ways that are far-reaching, stronger and more visceral. Defined by Alice Guillermo as a movement in art which “exposes the true conditions of society, as based on the artist’s keen observations of reality and proffers alternatives for human betterment,” SR works in principle, are always contemporary, articulating realities of the moments during which they were conceived, espousing aspirations for change.

Against the Current: Contemporary Social Realist Art in the Philippines presents works of both seasoned and emerging Filipino artists from different fields of practice, offering a spectrum of forms, subjects and media. It brings to the fore a variety of issues besetting Philippine society. These include the seemingly never ending problems of poverty, human rights violations and government corruption, as well as issues related to gender, race, identity, diaspora, trauma, virtual/cyber violence, and the environment. Situated in the complex and dynamic relationship of art and history, the works are not mere documentaries of social conditions, but are active participants in the continuing struggle of the people. It is art which dares to go against the current and seeks to become a potent agent of social transformation.

- by curator Jax Ali