In celebration of the International Migrants Day, the Philippine Consulate General, in cooperation with Guhit Kulay (GK), hosted an art exhibit entitled “Obra: Likhang Sining at Galing ng Migranteng Filipino” from 8 December to 15 December 2019.
Guhit Kulay (GK) is an art group composed of about 35 Filipino migrant workers based in Hong Kong. Deputy Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar – Usudan led the formal opening of the exhibit on 8 December, together with the Consulate’s officers and staff, GK president Noemi Manguerra, GK members and guests.
The exhibit was a showcase of talent, creativity and a coping mechanism for the members as they continue to live as migrants. Each piece conveys a story about life in Hong Kong as a Filipino migrant worker. The positive and negative impact of living and working far from home were clearly portrayed in their art.
As part of the opening ceremony, the Consulate and GK held a basic coloring workshop and coloring contest. Through the workshop, the participants learned the basics of coloring, such as strokes, blending and shading. A coloring contest was also conducted as a culminating activity to apply what they’ve learned at the workshop.
On 15 December 2019, the Consulate at GK held a photography workshop and a face painting contest. During the basic photography workshop, participants with passion and interest for photography shared their knowledge and technique in taking quality photos.
In the closing ceremony on 15 December, Consul General Raly L. Tejada expressed his support to Guhit Kulay and encouraged them to continue to create artwork that depicts the daily lives of migrant workers in Hong Kong.
Life as a migrant worker here in Hong Kong where an individual faces different challenges, such as stress, anxiety and homesickness can be very difficult. Art is a form of storytelling: it helps in developing a narrative of their lives and experiences. Through art, an individual can express his feelings and emotions that they can’t put into words. For many, art becomes a therapy to improve their mental health.
