Toym Imao recreates historic barricades through art installation 'Barikada'
Filipino multi-media visual artist Toym Imao has shared photos online of his art installation at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus called "Barikada," which they're currently working on. The "Barikada" is one of two art installations that they're setting up to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Diliman Commune.
Toym Imao's 'Barikada' being set up at the UP Diliman campus / Source: toymimao (IG)
In his first Instagram post about "Barikada," Toym Imao, whose real name is Abdulmari Toym de Leon Imao, Jr., quoted the song “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from the iconic musical Les Miserbales.
His caption reads, “Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!”
Toym then posted more photos of the two art installations, the "Barikada" and the "Desaparecidos," and gave more details about them.
“It's been a fulfilling weekend setting up these two installations in UP Diliman. Still, much work to be done for these works in progress for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Diliman Commune. They will be ready on Feb 1 to 9, 2021 when we retell stories from that pivotal period in the history of the UP student movement during the Marcos Dictatorship through various online platforms.
“'Barikada' rising at Quezon Hall and the University Avenue. 'Desaparecidos' comes out from storage and is set up at the UP Theater."
“Now more than ever, we need to remember our history in light of the current attacks on our institution, organizations, faculty, and studentry.”
Toym Imao's 'Barikada' and 'Deseparacidos' / Source: toymimao (IG)
The Diliman Commune was a 1971 uprising led by UP Diliman students, faculty members, residents, along with transport workers, to protest the oil price hike implemented during the Marcos administration.
The Diliman Commune, which transpired from February 1 to 9 of 1971, is said to be patterned after the Paris Commune of 1871.
Les Miserables, the musical from which Toym quoted song lyrics from, is based on the French historical novel of the same name, written by Victor Hugo.
It depicts the June rebellion of 1832 in Paris, where people built barricades in the streets around rue Saint-Martin and rue Saint-Denis, which is pretty similar to what Toym did for his "Barikada" art installation.
Men setting up Toym Imao's 'Barikada' / Source: toymimao (IG)
His other art installation, "Desaparecidos," is one of his earlier works, which is recognized as an important commemoration of the abuses that happened during the Martial Law era.
The term "desaparecidos" in Spanish is used to describe a person who has disappeared and believed to have been killed by members of the armed services of the police.
Toym's "Desaparecidos" consists of 43 sculptures of people holding empty frames next to their chest with hollow spaces, symbolizing the grief and pain of families whose loved ones disappeared during Martial Law.
It was previously exhibited at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in 2015 and will now be showcased from February 1 to 9, at the UP Theater.
Other notable creations of Toym Imao includes the Tandang Sora National Shrine in Quezon City, the Andres Bonifacio National Shrine in Maragondon, Cavite, and the Dr. Jose P. Rizal statue in Carson City, California.
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You might also want to check out some of the Filipino artists featured in last year's Art Fair Philippines in the gallery below:
