Storm: A Typhoon Haiyan Recovery Project

“STORM: A TYPHOON HAIYAN RECOVERY PROJECT” Curatorial Statement Johanna F. Almiron J. Lorenzo Perillo

Reprinted for curated project “Storm: A Typhoon Haiyan Recovery Project” Fall 2014

What survives in the wake of a storm? One year after Super Typhoon Haiyan, Storm assembles a community of responders. Storm chronicles the creativity generated despite and beyond Haiyan's destruction.

The Philippines is exposed to about nineteen tropical cyclones per year. But in November 2013 Typhoon Haiyan became the worst disaster in the history of the Philippines. Haiyan killed more than 6,300 people, cost over $2 billion in damages, and affected over 16 million people.

Our world increasingly is defined by disasters. We have witnessed catastrophes of apocalyptic proportions from storms like Haiyan and Katrina (United States 2005) to earthquakes like Fukushima (Japan 2011) and Port-au-Prince (Haiti 2010). During our curatorial process, some of the contributors to this exhibition faced new storms like Typhoons Rammasun, Fung Wong, and Vong Fong.

So this is not another moment of silence. We honor the dead with the noise of discontent. We also strive to reflect the radical love that propels efforts to support our kababayan. Little by little, each gesture of hope decenters the typhoon. Each act of hope reveals the people’s determination to recover.

Immerse yourself in the different dimensions of the healing process. From scholarly structural critiques to youth-initiated fundraisers. From poetic and musical renditions of collective grief to Hip Hop flash mobs to raise awareness.

Celebrate the indomitable human spirit and kapwa never lost in the flood.

Co-curated by Johanna F. Almiron and J. Lorenzo Perillo.

November 2014 For more information about community organizations that continue to help in the relief effort, navigate to the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns at http://nafconusa.org/ and CARE at http://care.org/emergencies/typhoon-haiyan.

Contributors: Chelo A. and Xien How Amanda Solomon Amorao Christian Almiron of Gentei Kaijo Jennifer Almiron Ray Basa and Raffy Piamonte Nana Buxani Jeff Arellano Cabusao Critical Filipina/Filipino Studies Collective Francesco Conte Franz DG Rodrigo de la PeĂąa Hannah Dormido Hip Hop Dance Association

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Francis Estrada Joel Kahn Joseph Legaspi Dindo Llana Enrico Maniago Isabel Manalo Alex Orquiza Lordy Rodriguez Robyn Rodriguez Catcher, Carver and Jhoanna Salazar E. San Juan Jr. Janice Sapigao Melissa Sipin Special thanks to: the American Studies Association, Valerie Francisco, Erwin Mendoza, Anna Sarao, Gina Rosales, Emerson Aquino, Arnel Calvario, Kim Alidio, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, and Father Alvin Cabacang.

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