As part of the FICS Artist-in-Residence/Futurist-in-Residence Program, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) invites both the UPOU community and the public to an open studio on Monday, 24 February 2025, featuring multimedia artist Carlo Dimaano.
Dimaano, a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidate from UP Diliman and FICS Artist-in-Residence, is using UPOU’s Galeria Sinag as a workspace in preparation for his thesis exhibition titled, Aglomerasyon: Mga Tunog at Imahe ng Ilusyon at Alyenasyon.
Aglomerasyon is a multimedia project that will be exhibited in April 2025 at UP Diliman. It explores alienation, consumerism, and capitalism’s impact on people and the environment and will feature five immersive artworks made from found objects, scrap materials, e-waste, sound, light, and video.
It looks into the changing landscapes from Laguna to Metro Manila, revealing the growing disconnection from nature and real human connections in a world driven by consumerism and technology. Dimaano explains, “The lure of the capitalist system through the glitters, the fancy surroundings, and wide choices of consumer products that fit a variety of preferences and imaginations creates an illusion of development and progress, a hyperreal that conceals the accumulation of trash–an inevitable consequence of consumerism.“
Aglomerasyon uses distorted audio-visuals and consumer waste to create a sensory-rich experience, prompting viewers to question modern society, imagined futures, and sustainability.
The artist’s open studio is part of UPOU’s 30th Anniversary Open House activities and will be held at Galeria Sinag, UPOU Community Hub in Los Baños, Laguna. This offers a rare opportunity for the public to interact with and witness his creative process, and participate in various aspects of his art production. Dimaano’s residency runs from this week until March 2025.