01 - Introducing Ub Ubbo
An intrinsic sense of community and working together for the common good. This embodies the concept of ub ubbo, the Kankanaey word for Bayanihan in Tagalog. A seven part series, Acts of Dialogue investigates the complexity of cultural exchanges between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians and Indigenous and non-Indigenous Filipinos.
Since 2008, the Ub Ubbo Exchange arts collective has been holding cultural exchanges between regional Philippines and Australia. In a world where rapid change and the challenging of the status quo divides communities on the opposite ends of the social and political spectrum, I have been interested in finding out what the role of art is in engaging in dialogue among artists from diverse backgrounds.
02 - Crossing Borders
Cultural exchanges have been at the core of Ub Ubbo Exchange's art practice, ever since Filipino ceramic artist Pablo Capati III first visited Australia in 2008. Since then, cultural exchanges have been central to Ub Ubbo's art production and exhibitions.
Cultural exchanges as an art practice and an act of discourse bring together regional communities. Considering cultural differences, what is the role of these cultural exchangesin tackling the complexity of these vast places? Beyond the building of bridges between cultures, what kind of dialogue resulted from these cultural exchanges?
03 - Roots without tree
The communities of Central NSW and Mountain Province in the Philippines have long been going through change. Understanding their ever-changing environment contextualises the experiences of the artists that come from these places.
The conversations of writer Jake Atienza with Ub Ubbo Exchange members reflect on the changes affecting their communities. It is about "[…] thinking about your roots, where you come from and your ability to maintain or try and keep your past, your culture alive" says Wiradjuri artist and community worker Scott Turnbull.
04 - Visual Language
How can we communicate through art? How can we communicate without speaking each others language? What is my form of expression, and how can I continue to make art?
These questions come to mind when considering that art is the means by which people from Ub Ubbo can tell their story.
05 - Beyond Idealism
The fragile and complex relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Filipinos and Australians is a manifestation of a colonial legacy in these respective countries. This legacy follows Ub Ubbo Exchange as it carries out cultural exchanges between Indigenous and non-indigenous people.
06 - Land, matters
Land plays a central component in culture and economy and it also shapes music, art and thought.
The narratives formed by Ub Ubbo's cultural exchanges imply the relevance of the intrinsic relationship between place and people.
Jake’s conversations with the members of Ub Ubbo Exchange indicates that land is an overarching theme in their art practice and cultures - be it Filipino, Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal Australian. This is an exploration of the centrality of land in culture and daily life amongst this group of creatives.
07 - Universal regularities
Ub Ubbo Exchanges current production of songs responds to what it refers to as universal regularities that govern the world, says Sydney-based musician Matthew Chicchini. Musicians Matthew Chicchini and Jason Murchie discuss their on-going research in music inspired by elements of nature, namely; water, earth, wind and fire.
As Ub Ubbo Exchange marks its 10 year anniversary in 2017, its current practice is the result of work that responds to issues such as land, language, and the complexities of intercultural collaborations.
At the core, this art collective is a small group of artists who rely on each another and their communities to carry out their work.
