The Voices of the Past

ArticulatePH and Museum Foundation of the Philippines relive the voices of the past with “The Lost Conversations”

Words Patricia Lanzagarita
Photos Museum Foundation of the Philippines
March 19, 2025

Art month holds significant importance in the Philippines, a country with a deep appreciation for all forms of art. To commemorate this special occasion, ArticulatePH launched “The Lost Conversations,” a series featuring renowned Filipino artists and masters.

In these recordings, the artists share their perspectives on the Philippine art scene, reflecting on the state of the art world during their time and discussing the challenges and triumphs of both their works and fellow artists.

Reliving “The Lost Conversations”

The event, held at the National Museum, featured select snippets from the iconic recordings. Conducted by art historian and critic Cid Reyes, these interviews bring to life the invaluable insights of prominent Filipino artists such as Sanso, Manansala, Malang, Ocampo, Saguil, Magsaysay-Ho, Luz, Kiukok, Joya, Edades, Abueva, and Abad.

Originally published in his 1989 book “Conversations on Philippine Art,” the recordings have now been remastered to offer a wealth of inspiration for emerging and future artists. Through these "lost conversations," Filipino artists are encouraged to continue pushing creative boundaries and strive for greater artistic achievements.

Exploring experimental arts

During the event, Reyes reflected on the evolution of the Philippine art market over time. In the recordings, the masters shared their struggles in making a living from their craft, as the public often overlooked emerging artists unless they were already well-established.

Reyes highlighted the remarkable success and recognition Filipino artists now enjoy, noting that artworks once sold for modest amounts are now valued in the millions. He also praised the transformation of art enthusiasts, who have become adventurous supporters of innovative and experimental art.

Conserving the conversations

During the talkback, Jorell Legaspi, Deputy Director-General for Museums at the National Museum of the Philippines, emphasized the importance of “conserving these conversations.” Cid Reyes supported this, stressing the value of preserving oral history as it offers a firsthand account of artistic creation. He also encouraged young historians and critics to continue documenting the evolution of Filipino art.

“Unfortunately, some of the tape cassettes were overtaped with music and other things. It is the great fortune of destiny that these tape cassettes were saved," Reyes shared. "And also I express my appreciation to the agency TBWA, for recording [and] digitizing these materials, that would have been lost to history and now being shared with the global audience."

Reyes hopes that “The Lost Conversations” will inspire many writers to document the current art scene in the Philippines, leveraging modern technology. He also hopes contemporary artists will recognize the rich legacy of their predecessors and understand the challenges that the Filipino masters overcame to shape the vibrant art industry we see today.

“The Lost Conversations" is now available for public viewing on ArticulatePH's YouTube channel.