Born in Manila, the Philippines, Alwin Reamillo (b. 1964) studied painting at University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts (1981-1985). Reamillo is a multifaceted artist: his artistic practice spans across painting, sculpture and installation. Since 1986, Reamillo has participated in national and international exhibitions including the 3rd Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial in 2005. He was awarded the CCP Thirteen Artists Award in 1994, and in 2004 he was the recipient of ArtsWA Mid-Career Fellowship in Western Australia. ‘Mang Emo + Mag-himo Grand Piano Project’ is an ongoing project started in 2005 and has travelled to four countries (Philippines, Singapore, Japan and Australia). Reamillo’s father had a company that dominated the piano-making industry in the Philippines until 1997 when cheaper imported pianos forced the company to close. Besides commemorating his father, this work also exemplifies the Filipino notion of ‘bayanihan’ (community solidarity) by involving the craftsmen who used to work for his father, and using discarded parts from the workshop. In this project, Reamillo interweaves his personal story with the social history of the Philippines, a theme that he explores time and again in his art.
