“Paete Unknown” is a group exhibition by Bayani Ray Acala, Rizia Adao, Arpi Baldemor, Charming Baldemor, Emersan Baldemor, and Resty Cagayat that is exhibited from December 06, 2022 – January 31, 2023, at the NCCA Gallery.

Most people recall the town of Paete from sculpted images created for an outsider’s gaze: figures of saints and paper mache animals permeate the town’s identity and are bought and brought to the far reaches of the world.

Conceived from the duty to inspect prevailing perceptions, this exhibit offers a more intimate look at the town. The artists, many of whom are next-generation kin of Paete’s known artist-scholars, carry through the responsibility of keeping their culture true and alive through visual reassessment. They ponder quietly on their personal encounters with its places and its people, revealing the current aesthetic tastes, and collective memories and aspirations of Paete.

Here, the artworks offer an approach for reinforcing image-making as one of the critical processes that make a nation’s heritage.

NCCA Gallery Hours are Mondays to Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Fridays & Saturdays, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Under Alert Level 1, the NCCA Gallery is open for walk-in, fully-vaccinated visitors. Vaccination cards shall be checked. Unvaccinated minors will be allowed to enter but must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated individual. Check the NCCA official Facebook page for any changes in Alert Level restrictions. For more information, call – (02) 8527 2205, or email – gallery@ncca.gov.ph.