Catalogue > At random

The Philippine Constabulary Band was a symphonic band formed in 1901 by African-American Lt. Walter Loving of the US Army’s 48th Volunteer Infantry during the American period in the Philippines. Since its first public performance on May 20, 1903, the band has brought the country international fame through its participation in international competitions, including the 1904 St. Louis Exposition in the USA, where the band placed second. In this infamous fair where live Filipinos were exhibited especially the dog-eating Igorot tribe, the band performed Rossini’s classical music ‘Willam Tell Overture’. Forward to the year 2015, the artist’s father’s has a vast vinyl record collection and one of them is a Philippine Constabulary band record that was released in the 70’s under the New Society period of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Creating a new narrative about the band and the collection, the current Philippine Army band played Rossini’s Willaiam Tell Overture after 100 years ago side by side by the vast collection of the artist’s father that were gathered slowly since the 70’s.

Mark Salvatus is a contemporary artist from Manila, Philippines. His works crosses various disciplines and media that deal with chance encounters and everyday politics creating his own narrative and visual language. Calling his works and practice as “Salvage Projects”, he has shown his projects in different international exhibitions including the Philippine Pavilion, Venice Architecture Biennale (2016); SONSBEEK International, Arnhem, The Netherlands (2016); Singapore Biennale (2011), Guangzhou Triennale (2011), Jakarta Biennale (2011/2015), Koganecho Bazaar, Yokohama (2011), Hotel Inmigrantes, Manifesta 9, Hasselt, Belgium (2012), Prologue Exhibition: Honolulu Biennale (2014), Survival Kit Festival, Umea, Sweden (2014) and Next Wave Festival, Melbourne (2010). He had also presented his works in different museums and galleries including La Trobe University, Visual Arts Centre, Bendigo; Asia Society, New York; Museum Brengasse, Zurich; Center for Contemporary Art, Singapore; Ateneo Art Gallery; Cultural Center of the Philippines, Vargas Museum; Metropolitan Museum of Manila; Osage Foundation, Hong Kong; 1335 Mabini in Manila; Art Center Ongoing, Tokyo. Mark is a recipient of the 13 Artists Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (2012) and Ateneo Art Awards (2010). In 2012 he founded and acts as the artistic director of 98B COLLABoratory, a multi-disciplinary site for creative sharing, discussion and collaboration.