Pirated: a post asian perspective

Pirated: a post asian perspective

GLORIA G. GALANG

Bio

GLORIA GALLEGA GALANG, a Manila/San Francisco native, received her BA in Art Studio and Asian American Studies from UC Santa Barbara with emphasis on computer graphics, photography, printmaking, sculpture, typography, and video. She began freelancing as a graphic artist in 1993, spent 5 years as senior art director at a San Francisco advertising agency, and in 2001 launched Gg.galang DESIGN. As principal creative, her client list has run the gamut from Pearl Ubungen Dancers & Musicians, Ozomatli, and 4th Market Records to Reuters Foundation, McCann-Erickson, Digitas/Modem Media, and Tribe Networks. As an artist and designer, Gloria finds inspiration through the love of her family and friends and the roots/reggae/dancehall/ hip hop movement.

Soul of America, mixed media installation

Project Statement

pi·ra·cy (n): robbery / stealing / hijacking / the taking and using of, without authorization or without the legal right to do so / the unauthorized or illegal broadcasting of (TV, radio, DVDs)–or as I define it, “the act of being taken over by outside forces.” From 500 years of Spanish rule to 100 years (and counting) of American influence/imperialism, the Philippines remains in a constant power struggle. With Catholicism and Capitalism at the core of Philippine life, the result is a piracy of individual and collective Filipino minds. The Catholic Church and its dogma have shaped Filipino culture but “Americanization” has emerged, bringing false projected ideals, materialism, industry, and commercialization. Simultaneously, the new religion of TV and entertainment command how people feel about themselves and others, and how they spend their time and money. Who are we all really praying to? What is the real piracy today?

The piece pictured above is by Gloria G. Galang, and is representative of her work. (America is in the Heart, mixed media installation.) The mixed media installation she is exhibiting is entitled Altar(ed) Perceptions, and was created in 2005.

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