Reclaiming The Healing Arts of The Ancient ... - Wacana Seni

74Wacana Seni Journal of Arts Discourse. Jil./Vol.11. 2012position, his inert, meditative stance is set in striking contrast to that of Thoranee, who isshown effortlessly, sensuously, wringing her hair, thus unleashing a deluge on the forces ofthe evil Mara. While the Buddha connotes sublime tranquility, Thoranee is depicted as anactive power – the embodiment of nature's capacity for creation and destruction.STORY 3: INCARNATIONS OF THE BABAYLAN IN WOMEN ARTISTS OF THEPHILIPPINESLet me now fast forward to 2004 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Manila,right before I left for this fellowship. During the opening of a major exhibition by womenartists in the Philippines (which I curated), we invoked the many-breasted goddess we callMebuyan through a performance ritual (led by Racquel "Kleng" de Loyola, and other youngwomen artists Maan Charisse de Loyola, Ramona dela Cruz, Teta Tulay, Vivian Limpin andLea Lim). In the ritual, Mebuyan moved with the spontaneous rhythm of percussions andguitar effects; and the chanting of prayers composed by participating artists – prayers thatexpress women's deepest longings, desires and visions for the future. Mebuyan then proceededto "paint" the empty wall with fluids squeezed out of the many breasts of her rubber latexbody suit – signifying women's life-giving powers, capacity to nurture, create and re-createthemselves by fusing the ordinary and sacred in art. As she turned on the lights of the gallery,the exhibit formally opened and Mebuyan welcomed the guests to a space, which was turnedinto a metaphorical house by more than 50 women artists, working on a wide range of styles,themes, images, artistic media and coming from diverse, geographic, artistic and philosophicallocations.