It might be hard for an ordinary person to understand what drives migrant workers to leave their homes and loved ones behind to seek employment in other countries, but a group of artists originally from the Philippines who now live in Singapore are working to bridge that gap. A new art exhibit centered around migrant work is a push to gain more acceptance for those types of workers in Singapore.
Some people might think that migrant workers have it good. They get to travel, see new things, and earn more money than they could have otherwise if they had remained in their home country. However, these would be misconceptions. Many migrant workers are filled with anxiety about leaving their friends and families behind, as well as adapting to a new country and culture they might not be used to. There are many barriers to overcome, such as the possibility of dealing with a new language necessary to communicate their needs and wants, unfamiliar foods and drinks, and the fact that they are sending the majority of money home and must live frugally.
This collection of artworks explores these themes, and the exhibition’s title translates to “baggage” — meaning things people carry both physically and emotionally. One painting that is a part of this group shows a piece of heavy machinery at dawn or dusk. It has been captured lifting a heavy load of materials — or perhaps it has hefted it above the ground for the entire night to ward off anything happening to it. This is a scene that many migrant workers would recognize, and a workplace many of them might be familiar with. The baggage is the payload lifted aloft.
Another painting shows a weary person in rumpled clothing walking away from the viewer. The person has a heavy-looking backpack strapped on, and is toting another piece of luggage. Both the backpack and rolling luggage are plastered with stickers reminiscent of frequent travel, and the background of the painting seems to be fenced and walled in, recalling the numerous borders migrant workers must cross in order to find their livelihoods and help their families. There is a sense of sadness and resignation in this painting, evident through the dominant blue colors.
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To learn more about the exhibit and the Singapore-based Filipino artists, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/drawing-attention-to-migration.