Student-artists take a stand on the issue of the West Philippine Sea through “Fish from China: A Study of a Perspective of a Hand,” a collection of large-scale artworks that showcase the craft of figure drawing.
The exhibit, open until March 15 at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, depicts the reaction of Fashion Design and Merchandising and Production Design students on the comment of the Philippine Senate President who claimed that there is nothing wrong with China fishing in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone despite the fact that the Philippines has won the arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea in 2016.
“With the use of charcoal, lead sticks, and a fish from China stamp printed on a board and onto the craft paper, the students protest against the Chinese government with support from the Philippine counterpart, illegally forcing the Filipino fishermen out of their own waters.”
Highlighting the sketches are the middle fingers raised to the so-called “fish from China.”
The pieces are inspired by political contemporary Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei’s “Study of Perspectives,” a series of photographs from 1995 to 2017 which shows her middle finger raised to landmarks across the world as a display of rage and protest.