From The Diaspora
A cross-border exhibition for National Arts Month 2026, LAKBAY brings together Christina “Ling” Quisumbing Ramilo and Filipino artists from the diaspora through assemblage and visual storytelling.
Words Gerie Marie Consolacion
Photos courtesy of ART HOUSE
January 28, 2026
As the country prepares to celebrate National Arts Month in early 2026, the creative platform Art House will present a major exhibition that brings together Filipino artists living across borders.
LAKBAY 2026: Through Visual Poetries with Christina “Ling” Quisumbing Ramilo will take place at the Mezzanine of Discovery Primea from January 30 to February 1, 2026. The exhibition offers a space to reflect on memory, longing, and identity, themes that often shape the lives of Filipinos in the diaspora.
Now on its second iteration, the LAKBAY series continues its goal of cultural exchange by encouraging artists based abroad to reconnect with the country they still consider home.
From New York Activism to Manila Assemblage
At the heart of this year’s exhibition is Christina “Ling” Quisumbing Ramilo, an artist whose personal history is closely tied to her work. She began her artistic training at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, where she studied editorial design and once hoped to become a children’s book illustrator.
Her path changed when she moved to New York City in the 1980s to pursue a master’s degree in studio arts. Living in New York during a period shaped by queer activism and the AIDS crisis pushed her to live openly and engage deeply with advocacy work. She became involved with organizations such as GABnet and later co-founded the Kilawin Kolektibo, a collective of Pinay queer women.
Christina “Ling” Quisumbing Ramilo
During her 23 years in New York, Ling supported her practice through work at a bronze foundry and later at the Frick Art Reference Library. Her early pieces were largely representational, but over time, she found her voice in assemblage, a medium that allowed her to honor the history and previous lives of objects.
When she returned to the Philippines in her 40s, she approached the move with care and humility, choosing to relearn the local art scene and build new connections from the ground up.
Grandmother’s House and Beyond
A turning point in Ling’s artistic direction came during the renovation of her grandmother’s house. With little room to paint, she spent time observing carpenters at work, learning traditional building methods, and gathering discarded wood and old architectural fragments.
These experiences led to the Madre series, where staircase parts were transformed into sculptural forms that reflect her view of Filipino women as quiet anchors who hold families and histories together.
Ling often describes her work as deeply personal, like pages from an autobiography. The Roadtrip series traces a two-month journey across the United States, while the Madrugada series captures the stillness and restlessness of sleepless nights through repeated graphite lines.
Her titles often carry humor and layered meaning, shaped by her love of poetry. In Work In Progress, a small-scale scaffolding that viewers can step into, she offers a simple reflection on life as something unfinished, always shifting and evolving.
Listening with Eyes
Curator Marika Constantino brings together works created across several decades, including pieces from Ling’s years in New York that have long remained unseen. She describes Ling’s practice as generous, marked by patience and care in cleaning, restoring, and reworking discarded materials. Rather than forcing objects into new identities, Ling allows them to begin again while keeping traces of their past.
Ling’s artwork titled Painting
The exhibition is meant to stir feelings as much as thought, inviting viewers to slow down and listen with their eyes. Constantino also highlights Ling’s role as a mentor who openly shares knowledge and support with younger artists, a spirit that aligns closely with the values of LAKBAY 2026.
Nine Voices of the Diaspora
Art House founder Carlo Pineda sees LAKBAY as a platform that shows how Filipino talent continues to grow around the world. Through logistical and transportation support, Art House helps artists based abroad return to the Philippines to exhibit their work.
Ling’s artwork titled Relic
This year, nine Filipino artists from different countries take part in the exchange, responding to Ling’s work through their own artistic languages.
Coming from places such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the UAE, their contributions reflect personal experiences of distance, adjustment, identity, and longing. Together, their works create a layered conversation shaped by shared roots and different journeys.
A Weekend of Art and Community
LAKBAY 2026 extends beyond the exhibition itself through a weekend of activities designed to bring people together. The event opens on January 29 with a vernissage and the launch of a LAKBAY-inspired menu at Discovery Primea, offering another way to experience art through food.
Ling’s artwork titled Blue Deco
On January 30, visitors can join a self-decoding workshop led by Kulay Labitingan. January 31 includes a children’s workshop facilitated by Kim Cruz, followed by an artist talk and roundtable discussion with Ling and the participating diaspora artists. The weekend concludes on February 1 with a printing demonstration by Angela Silva.
Through these shared moments, Art House and Discovery Primea aim to create a strong sense of connection and belonging. LAKBAY 2026 serves as a reminder that Filipino artists, no matter where they are based, remain tied to the motherland and always have a place to return to.
