'These memories, they are not solely mine. By telling these stories, these memories, is a way to connect the Filipino diaspora who have gone beyond their home.' John Gatip explains why he chose childhood games as a subject for the 2025 exhibit 'Bale'. Credit: Jack Carlin
Sa ikalawang taon, muling binuhay ni John Gatip ang ala-ala ng kabataan binuo gawa sa mga materyales na nagbibigay buhay sa nakaraan. Ang 'Bale' ay bahagi ng 2025 Melbourne Design Week
Sa ikalawang taon, muling binuhay ni John Gatip ang ala-ala ng kabataan binuo gawa sa mga materyales na nagbibigay buhay sa nakaraan. Ang 'Bale' ay bahagi ng 2025 Melbourne Design Week
Key Points
'Bale' ay Kapampangan para sa salitang bahay.
Ang mga inspirasyon sa installation ang hango sa kabataan, partikular sa buhay sa Pampanga.
Kabilang din sa inspirasyon ang mga naganap na 'brown out' at mga bagyo noong naninrahan pa sa Pilipinas.
Bale is Kapampangan for house, but in this case, I refer to it as home. Because when I think of the Philippines, I think of it as home.
John Gatip, Filipino-Australian architect and designer of Bale, 2025 Melbourne Design Week
'I wanted to use a material that is precious because memories are precious, and I hold Capiz as this precious material that is uniquely Filipino, and pearls as the Philippines produces pearls.' John Gatip on using Capiz and freshwater pearls as materials fopr his sungka. Credit: Jack Carlin'Candles have been a fascination since I was a kid. I played with candles a lot, and of course, there were blackouts (brownouts) in the Philippines that could last for minutes, hours, or even days, and candles were a source of light. Remembering loved ones during Todos Los Santos (All Souls Day) was one of the memories I used. Collecting wax from burnt candles.' John Gatip on memories that inspired him to create candles as part of his exhibit 'Bale'. Credit: Jack Carlin
