In Tropical Lightscapes, the Philippine sun shines across borders, transforming the halls of the Philippine Embassy in Rome into a space filled with the warmth and vibrancy of the tropics. Through lighting installations crafted from banaca fabric, artist Mirei Monticelli brings the enduring radiance of the Philippines into the heart of Europe. Each piece speaks to the unique beauty of Philippine flora and the resilience of natural materials, while also carrying the spirit of home for Filipinos far from their native shores. For Filipinos in Europe, the memory of light has a special meaning. Here, where the seasons bring cold winters and muted skies, the warmth of the Philippine sun becomes not just a memory but a connection to the life they left behind—a thread that ties them to family, traditions, and the landscapes of home. In these works, crafted from abaca and plant dyed fabrics, inspired by the flora of the Philippines, light itself becomes a language of belonging and resilience, a reminder that even far from the equator, the spirit of the tropics endures.
The exhibit’s crowning jewel is Bukang-Liwayway (Dawn), a glowing tribute to the first light of day. Here, dawn does not simply signal morning; it embodies the renewal and hope that sustains the Filipino spirit in foreign lands. Surrounding it, four wall-mounted pieces created in collaboration with artist Giah De los Reyes echo the delicate forms of Philippine flowers, each one a tribute to the vitality and resilience of life in the tropics. Through these forms, Tropical Lightscapes becomes a shared space where Filipinos and others alike can experience a moment of tropical dawn—a place to pause, to remember, and to feel the warmth of home. In Tropical Lightscapes, light and nature come together as an homage to the Philippines and a bridge to its people around the world. Here, light doesn’t just illuminate; it embraces, carrying within it the promise of home and the resilience to bloom even in unfamiliar soil.
OUR MATERIAL: BANACA Banaca textile, is derived from the Musa textilis - ABACA plant indigenous to the Philippines. It boasts a rich history and unparalleled strength, making it a prized natural resource. Woven into the fabric of Filipino tradition for centuries, abaca has transcended its historical roots and found its way into diverse global industries.