Exhibition venue: Dankhaus German American Cultural Center, Chicago IL
No Ordinary Light invites us to experience light as something far more than brightness or warmth. This exhibition by female-identifying artists explores light as a teacher.
The show was on view at DANK Haus German American Cultural Center (4740 N. Western Ave) from March to May 2025, with an opening reception held on March 8 and an Artist Walkthrough held on April 26.
Mga Pagninilay
(Reflections, Ruminations)
hand cut paper
2025
The Tagalog word pagninilay roughly translates to reflections or ruminations. It refers to being in deep thought or contemplating. These 6 hand cut layers of paper are a reflection made in four chapters: tahanan (home), lipunan (society), kabuhayan (livelihood), and pag-ibig (love).
Light and reflection are inherently intertwined, shaping how we see and remember. Memories resurface when illuminated by thought, sometimes clear and vivid, other times distorted by time and perception, just like how light changes as it bounces off surfaces to create reflection. In this state of introspection, we revisit and reevaluate experiences under a new light, teaching us that memories are not static. Just as light can reveal hidden details out of the shadows, reflection can uncover forgotten emotions, deeper truths, and new understandings of past experiences, allowing us to see the past in a different way.
y. pulongbarit-cuevo 