Louie Jalandoni, Revolutionary: An Illustrated Biography

Since 2013 the New World Academy—an ongoing educational platform for art and politics—has been closely involved with the artists of the National Democratic Movement of the Philippines. A long standing resistance movement of political, underground and grassroots organizations, the National Democratic Movement began its campaign against the Marcos dictatorship during the 1970s, and continues to fight what they consider to be the unabated “semi-colonial” and “semi-feudal” status-quo in the Philippines.

Louie Jalandoni, a Catholic priest who later became a prominent Communist revolutionary, has been one of the leading voices in the National Democratic Movement of the Philippines since its foundation. Though growing up in a wealthy family, being persistently confronted with the daily struggle of peasants and workers in his work as a priest Jalandoni was eventually led to join the revolutionary movement. His subsequent struggle for land-reform, the recognition of indigenous peoples and Filipino sovereignty from imperial influences continues to this day.

Now a unique graphic biography has been created fusing the revolutionary life of Jalandoni with the ongoing struggle of the Filipino people. Authored by Ina Alleco R. Silverio, produced by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, published by the International Network for Philippine Studies and illustrated by prominent Filipino artists Leonilo Doloricon, Max Santiago, Mervin Malonzo, Enrico Maniago, Fernando Argosino and Jaco Payawal, the book, Louie Jalandoni, Revolutionary: An Illustrated Biography, is an unmatched collective work of art that carries the spirit of the people’s struggle of the National Democratic of the Philippines into the field of popular culture and education.

For the launch of Louie Jalandoni, Revolutionary, a public conversation with Louie Jalandoni (chair National Democratic Front of the Philippines) led by Esther Captain (historian, head researcher at The National Committee 4 and 5 May) will be followed by a Skype conversation to the Philippines with the artists in question. A response to the graphic biography and its cultural and educational potential is given by Phoenix (University of Colour) and Nadine Stijns (artist) and introduced by Jonas Staal (artist, New World Academy).

The event will also be one of the last opportunities to see the exhibition New World Academy on view at the Centraal Museum, Utrecht, which includes works from artists from the National Democratic Movement of the Philippines. The museum is open from 11:00–17:00 hrs.

This book launch is organized by the New World Academy (founded by BAK, basis voor actuele kunst and Jonas Staal), in collaboration with Framer Framed, platform for art in a globalized society (Amsterdam) and is hosted by the Centraal Museum, Utrecht.