The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) opens the season of the “BER” months with Balhin, a solo exhibition by Bulacan-born artist Edmond Rivera.
Drawing from his own childhood experience of losing his home and the ongoing displacement of the Lumad in Bukidnon, Rivera bears witness to the struggle of marginalized communities. His works invite reflection on the human cost of so-called “progress.”
The Balhin exhibit at the NCCA Gallery. Photo by NCCA PAIO – Jonathan Vergara
The exhibition title, Balhin—a Hiligaynon word meaning to move, change, or transform—reflects both the forced transformations brought about by dispossession and the transformative power of art as testimony. Rivera’s canvases do not offer comfort; instead, they compel reflection and accountability, asking viewers: What will you do with what you have seen?
As the NCCA ushers in the last quarter of the year, Balhin becomes a space for memory and reflection—reminding us that progress should not come at the cost of erasure, and that the future must uphold every community’s right to land, life, and dignity.
Visit Balhin at the NCCA Gallery, located at 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila, from September 5 to 30. The gallery is open daily, Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
