Exhibition helps redefine culture

THE Bendigo Art Gallery is showcasing a Western Sydney artist’s solo exhibition that explores nuances of motherhood, sexuality, tradition, femininity, and masculinity. 

Many of Marikit Santiago’s paintings on show as part of The kingdom, the power are dual self-portraits, or of family members such as her three children, who often also contribute to her work. 

“I often feel like we have to embody all of these different roles at the same time, and sometimes they overlap easily, and sometimes they do remain very separate,” she said. 

“As an artist and a mother, I often feel guilt for pursuing this career, because it’s just such a difficult field to excel in. 

“Sometimes, this sounds so cocky, I resent being talented in fine art because it would just be so much easier if I just had a normal job, and I would know how much I could provide for my family. 

“But at the same time, if I didn’t follow this career, then I feel like I’d be wasting a God-given talent, and I hope I’m teaching my children so much more through my work than if I just had a regular job.” 

Santiago’s work portrays strong themes of her family background and what matters to them, like in her painting Legacy. 

“My dad is the only son with five sisters, and when he was born his parents where like ‘oh good, now our name will carry on’,” she said. 

“When he became a father, he really longed to have a son to carry on the name as well, and so then when I had my son, he was like ‘finally I have a legacy’. 

“And me and my sister were like ‘hello?’ We were here first, just because we’re women doesn’t mean we can’t carry on that legacy. 

“It’s all in jest, but that is indicative of the patriarchal society that the Philippines is, and my dad is a product of that.” 

A three-time Archibald Prize finalist – including in 2023, Santiago said having the chance at winning such as prestigious title, not just for her but people like her, is what keeps her going. 

“If someone like me wins a prize like the Archibald, it’s not just a win for me, it’s a win for all those communities I represent that are minority communities,” she said. 

“Like, have you ever seen a Filipino from Western Sydney win the Archibald? 

“Even having a woman winning the Archibald is a big thing, so if I had won, I would have won for all those communities that I want to represent, so that is why I will enter it again. 

“Historically in art, women haven’t always been welcomed in galleries like this, especially not a brown woman from a migrant community.” 

Bendigo Art Gallery curator Lauren Ellis said she was lucky to have seen Santiago’s work in Sydney last year and then, “our stars aligned.” 

“I think her work is very unique in Australia,” said Ellis. “The work is internationally resonant. 

“I think her work engages with a lot of urgent, current questions around colonisation and inherited legacies of Christianisation and Indigenous Peoples, and the legacy of colonial beliefs and values. 

“But then you’ve got this young generation of, especially second-generation, migrant young people interrogating what they want to cherish and reject from their cultural upbringing.” 

Santiago’s work has been on display recently in New York, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and at other centres in NSW. 

The Kingdom, the power will be at Bendigo Art Gallery until 4 February.