Thoughts on the BSP art exhibit

Kultura. Kapital. Kasalukuyan is the title of the Contemporary art collection of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that is on exhibit at the National Museum of Fine Arts until 2027.

- MARIA VICTORIA RUFINO

"The works on display are not just for viewing. It tells stories of our identity, our struggles, and our hope. They remind us that building a nation takes both economic strength and cultural depth," BSP Governor Eli Remolona said in his welcome speech.

"This has been a wonderful collaboration... It occurs to me that artists and central bank economists are not all that different. Both build new worlds, maybe imagined worlds. Both challenge norms and both imagine the future.

"The artist constructs these worlds through brushstrokes or found objects such as a toilet seat — like Marcel Duchamp. Economists will do it through complicated equations and mathematical models.

"That is why I love both... art and economics," Mr. Remolona emphasized. (He was based in Basel, Switzerland for many years. The economist-banker is a certified art lover.)

Deputy Governor Berna Romulo-Puyat explained, "KKK brings together works that reflect the spirit of our times. The exhibit follows two key themes that spans two galleries... together, they tell a story of evolving culture, shifting values, and creative expression shaped by our time.

"We shine a light on contemporary artists whose perspectives and experiences continue to shape our national identity.

"Art should not be hidden away. It should be seen, explored, and discussed. Though this exhibit, we hope to inspire more people to engage with Filipino art and reflect on how it tells our shared story," Ms. Romulo-Puyat enthused.