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The artist’s installation features two art case instruments built from found Wittemberg upright pianos. These art case pianos also function as conceptual portraits to pay tribute to the memory of Nicanor Abelardo, the first modernist composer of the Philippines.

The Lobby, G/F
UP Vargas Museum

To celebrate the centenary of the University of the Philippines, the UP Jorge B. Vargas Museum hosts the work of its current artist-in-residence, Alwin Reamillo. Reamillo is an Australia-based artist behind the Nicanor Abelardo Grand Piano Project, a cumulative residency project which involves the artist’s sourcing of old upright pianos and its transformation into art case instruments. The artist’s installation features two art case instruments built from found Wittemberg upright pianos. These art case pianos also function as conceptual portraits to pay tribute to the memory of Nicanor Abelardo, the first modernist composer of the country and the composer of the university hymn, UP Naming Mahal / UP Beloved.

In the coming months, a disused grand piano will be modified by the artist in collaboration with a team of piano technicians. A series of small-scale, wing-shaped piano lids and its mirror construction will also be created to depict Abelardo’s journey as a government scholar to the United States. These ‘wing works’ thematically reference other classic Kundiman compositions such as Nasaan Ka Irog and Bituing Marikit. Viewers of the installation-in-progress are invited to play their favorite piano pieces. A concert in line with the piano project will be held on 09 December 2008, 6:00 PM at the UP Vargas Museum Lobby. Selected pieces by Nicanor Abelardo and contemporary musical pieces will be performed by the faculty, renowned alumni and students of the College of Arts and Letters as well as by other guest musicians.

Exhibition runs until 19 December 2008. For details on the Nicanor Abelardo Grand Piano Project, please contact the UP Vargas Museum at numbers 928-1927 (direct line), 928-1925 (telefax), 981-8500 locals 4024 / 23, or email us at vargasmuseum@gmail.com.