Patch (2020-21) — Social Art Library

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Mae Aguinaldo

A three-panel image of a Covid-19 memorial project. The memorial features an embroidered candle emoji and names/nicknames of the deceased. Photo credit: Mae Aguinaldo

Patch is a memorial for the people who have passed on during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It takes inspiration from a form of communication that has been further normalized in these times – online messaging and emoji speak.

Patch offers a response, a commiseration in a time of (continued) isolation. In creating the work, some folks had shared with the artist the names/nicknames of people they knew who had passed on during the pandemic. They also shared how they were related to the deceased. While in conversation, a sharer had expressed appreciation for the gesture of including the names of their relatives and friends in the memorial. Another sharer was reminded of something they had wanted to do for a deceased friend.

The memorial project was presented via an Instagram takeover of a Manila-based artist-run space's account.

More information: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKNar6jB1OG/

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Mae Aguinaldo

Mae Aguinaldo (Manila, Philippines) taps into material cultures and their stories of adaptations, traditions and processes. Several of the art projects that the artist has produced have been in Southeast Asian cities, which have strengthened the collaborative and cooperative aspect of her art-making. One-on-one story-making sessions, DIY fashion workshops, found-object sculpture promoting sustainable tourism, online scholarship projects on art and on Philippine culture – these are among the artist's recent works.

http://wearmesa.blogspot.com/

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