DETAILS
Free, no booking required
Brunswick Street Gallery
322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC, Australia
DATES
Thu 15 May 10am – 5pm
Fri 16 May 10am – 5pm
Sat 17 May 10am – 5pm
Sun 18 May 11am – 4pm
Tue 20 May 10am – 5pm
Wed 21 May 10am – 5pm
Thu 22 May 10am – 5pm
Fri 23 May 10am – 5pm
Sat 24 May 10am – 5pm
Sun 25 May 11am – 4pm
Bale is a word in the Kapampangan language meaning home.
Growing up in the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, Gatip explores childhood memories through designed objects as a way to re-examine and reconcile his detachment from his roots after migrating to Australia at the age of ten.
The exhibition draws from memories of flood seasons, electrical blackouts, summer holidays, Todos Los Santos, and meals around the table, shaping the designs of the featured objects. It includes a Sungka board, a traditional Southeast Asian game, alongside chess and Damas (Filipino checkers) boards and a series of candelabras and candle holders . The exhibition also showcases sculptural hammocks crafted from capiz and reinterpretations of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper — an image prominently displayed in many Filipino dining rooms. Through these objects, Gatip revisits and reinterprets his childhood through, seeking to connect with others who share a similar migration story — where memories become bridges between cultures.
The exhibition opens on Thursday, 8 May with an opening night from 6-8pm on Friday, May 9.
Participants
John Gatip
The works of John Gatip span within the transection of art and architecture. He explores through the mode of sculpture, painting, and art installations. His work derives from the need to narrate the immediate, record his introspections and create explorations within the layers of art and architecture. Materiality, cultural symbolism and narrative feature heavily within his work. As a Filipino born Australian, Gatip draws deeply from his heritage, inspired by the cultural traditions and craftsmanship of the Philippines. A registered architect in Victoria, Australia, Gatip has also co-led Master of Architecture Design Studios at the Melbourne School of Design. John’s work has been exhibited in galleries locally in Australia as well as Internationally. His work has been published in magazines such as Houses and Inside Out. In 2024, John’s works were shortlisted for Yering Station Sculpture Art Prize and 2024 Design Anthology Awards in Singapore.