Frankfurt, 27 September 2025 – New Beginnings: Philippine Photographic Art opened at the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt (FFF), bringing together a diverse and urgent body of work from contemporary Filipino photographers. From documentary photography to conceptualist art, from the lives of indigenous communities to intimate portrayals of daily resilience, the exhibition presents a wide spectrum of stories of struggle, survival, and joy.
“This is, today, the most significant exhibition of Philippine photography in Germany and outside of the Philippines,” noted curator Patrick Flores. “These artists are not only photographers, but also painters, poets, cinematographers, and cultural workers.” Flores emphasized that the exhibition is both a celebration of artistic excellence and a reflection of the Philippines’ participation as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025.
The show was realized through close collaboration between the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, and is part of the Philippines Guest of Honour cultural program at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair.
Curated by Patrick Flores, Andrea Horvay, and Celina Lunsford, New Beginnings features works by Nana Buxani, Xyza Cruz Bacani, Tommy Hafalla, Gina Osterloh, Wawi Navarroza, Augustine Paredes, Veejay Villafranca, and MM Yu. Co-curators introduced the exhibition, underscoring the wide range of practices represented—from staged photo-tableaux and long-term documentary projects to large-scale installations and explorations of identity, spirituality, environment, and belonging.
Paredes, the youngest participating photographer, reflected on the significance of being included alongside established figures: “These are people I looked up to, but also storytellers whose work matters in many different ways. The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands, and there is no single way to tell a Filipino story. This exhibition shows narratives we often do not see, or only encounter at the margins. It’s important to share them, because there is no one way to express what it means to be Filipino.”
Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos emphasized, “Our Guest of Honour participation carries with it the responsibility and the honor of presenting the breadth and depth of Philippine creativity, not only through our literary works but across the full spectrum of artistic expression. New Beginnings highlights photography as a vital part of the larger Filipino narrative, and stands alongside literature, film, music, and other creative forms. Together, these mediums help us tell you the story of who we are as a people through these layered, interconnected ways of seeing.”
New Beginnings is open to the public at Fotografie Forum Frankfurt until 11 January 2026. END