|
THE cultural exchanges we have
witnessed in the last decade suggest that, in time, we may someday
see the rise of a global culture, one that is rooted in the
traditions of the past as well as the present, and in the heritage
of the East and the West.
Yet despite
the unprecedented pace of change, certain themes remain
constant—women and their varying struggles with identity and
independence, be it in America in the 1950s or in present-day
Afghanistan, the age-old clash between Islam and the Western world,
or the notions of love and power in the time of the French
renaissance that still resonate today.
There is no
statement more powerful and enduring than the arts of a nation. In
Thailand, in America, Japan or India, the arts speak of a people and
the intimate and often inextricable connection between art and life,
between the distinct cultural influences of East and West that have
come to define their heritage.
People are the
cultural ambassadors of today’s world. From the Philippines,
Singapore and America, in divergent spheres of life—in literature,
the visual arts, in diplomacy, in architecture and urban
planning—National Artists of the Philippines, F. Sionil Jose and
Arturo Luz, President Emeritus of Asia Society, Nicholas Platt and
Singaporean architect William Lim, bring us glimpses of their worlds
and leave us with a greater appreciation of present realities as
well as the universal aspects of life.
Between East
and West sheds light on these and other provocative subjects.
Written by Tonette Martel, Between East and West is a collection of
essays on the places, themes and ideas that give meaning to the
times we live in, and to a world brought closer together by the
forces of globalization and information technology. It explores the
melding of the heritage of East and West and the cultural exchanges
between them.
With images
from the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York,
the Rockefeller Collection of Asian Art, the Prasart Museum in
Thailand, The Asia Society in New York, and specially commissioned
photographs of contemporary Bangkok and New York, the book promises
to be a sensory feast. Between East and West is published by Anvil
Publications and designed by 2006 National Book Awardee Guillermo
“Ige” Ramos.
“Looking
back at these essays which were written over the last 10 years, it
became clear to me that I had to look at the essays again and
rewrite them from two vantage points—that is the merging of
cultures in contemporary life, as well as the universal themes that
still define everyday life,” says Tonette.
“The world
has grown closer together as a consequence of globalization and the
spread of information technology, she explains. Yet the Philippines
has been heir to cultural interchanges for centuries. I looked back
to my youth and realized that those in my generation had grown up
with so many of the cultural aspects of both East and West, it was
as though we were caught between two worlds, and that explains the
title of the book.”
Of writing the
book, Martel says, “It taught me that people are more similar than
they are different. We all share the same hopes, dreams, fears and
aspirations. Yet each culture has a unique way of expressing these
realities. We live in a world today that compels us to open our eyes
to many truths all at once. I hope the reader will come away with
the notion that we are a part of one world—that the cultural
aspects of East and West and the merging of both will continue to
shape our lives and stay with us.”
Born and
raised in Manila, Martel received a Bachelors of Arts degree from
Marymount Manhattan College in New York and a Master of Arts degree
from New York University. She has written articles on the arts and
culture, on travel, and on social issues for over a decade.
Recently, she was invited to join the Gala Committee of the 2007
International Asian Art Fair “Opening Night Benefit Preview” in
New York as vice-chairman. The benefit preview will help The Asia
Society bring the best of Asian arts to America as seen through the
aspects of culture, politics and history.
Between
East and West will be launched on the evening of March 15, 2007, at
RED at the Makati Shangri-La. A portion of the book sales that
evening will benefit the Virlanie Foundation.
|
