‘The Weighing of the Heart’ for Diliman Dreams

The Weighing of the Heart is exhibited until September 30 at Vinzons Hall in the University of the Philippines Diliman. The exhibit features anatomically accurate heart sculptures made with ashes from the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires and the January 27, 2025 fire in Pook Dagohoy, UP Campus.

What I love about this edition is that visitors are invited to write the ‘weight’ of their hearts on a ‘taka’ heart. Taka is a traditional Philippine paper-mâché craft originating from Paete, Laguna. The exhibition is curated by Jhunie Sanchez, a native of Laguna. I am deeply touched by the emotional response to this growing project, and am excited to read what people wrote at the end of the exhibition.