Jonathan Joven's "Square Meters" exhibit is a poignant reminder that millions of Filipinos are still without a roof under their heads.
Joven tells his personal stories as well as his desires through his art exhibit called “Square Meters” where eight of his works will be displayed. It will run at the Art Cube Gallery in Makati City until March 20.
JONATHAN Joven knew how difficult life is for the poorest of the poor.
He experienced first-hand being constantly anxious about being evicted from their home in Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila.
Because of this, he dedicates this art exhibit to that experience and to other homeless people.
Despite the fact that home is a basic human right and a necessity, millions of poor Filipinos live without it.
This is an injustice that is taking forever to be solved.
Personal stories
Joven tells his personal stories as well as his desires through his art exhibit called “Square Meters” where eight of his works will be displayed. This will run at the Art Cube Gallery in Makati City until March 20.
Many of his works depict his memories of the places he’s lived over the years – Smokey Mountain, Katuparan Condominium, a makeshift home made out of cardboard, a pedicab.
The others are dreams of owning a decent house and lot. “Ang mensahe o naratibo na gusto kong ipaabot ay ang reality ng mga taong walang sariling bahay at lupa na matitirhan,” he says.
The millions of homeless, landless Filipinos will be able to identify themselves with Joven’s stories.
Many Filipinos from the provinces go to Metro Manila in search for better opportunities, but when they can’t, there is great likehood that they will end up homeless because they can’t go back home.
With this, he says, “Gusto kong ipakita rito ang pagnanais ko at namin na magkaroon ng sariling lupa, espasyo, at tirahan para maging tahanan ng aming pami-pamilya.”
These people are desperate to find their place in this world, but then economic and financial circumstances force them to live without it.
Thus, they live in makeshift houses in really tiny spaces. Most of the time, extended families live in these small spaces.
This is their normal. This is their life.
And Jonathan Joven depicts it well enough to spark a call-to-action to solve the problems of homelessness in the country.
Catch “Square Meters” in the Art Cube Gallery from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visitors must observe health protocols at all times. (EFO)