PARIS, France – Under the majestically restored Nave of the Grand Palais in Paris, France, the Philippines made its much-anticipated debut at the Révélations 2025, the international biennial for fine craft and contemporary creation, taking place from 21 May to 25 May. As the Grand Palais reopens its doors to the global creative community with approximately 37,000 visitors expected, the Philippines is honored to unveil its collection of contemporary fine crafts and designs at the prestigious event.
Organized by Ateliers d'Art de France, Révélations 2025 gathers over 500 of the world’s most exceptional designers and craftspeople, presenting diverse and unique works in fields such as ceramic, glass, textiles, wood, and metal. This seventh edition shines a spotlight on the signature and backbone of the biennial— “Le Banquet”, a curated international exhibition where new expressions and fresh looks of a hundred bold pieces from 12 participating countries and organizations are presented. Italy takes center stage as the Country of Honor, alongside Quebec, the Nation of Honor from the previous edition, and South Korea. Visitors are invited to discover unseen pieces from countries new to the biennial including Greece, Georgia, Ireland, Brazil, Ibero- America (Cuba, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru), and Overseas Territories (Polynesia and French Carribean). For their first participation in the biennial, Révélations highlights three (03) South-East Asian countries: Malaysia (supported by Society Atelier Sarawak), Bangladesh (supported by the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation) and the Philippines (supported by the Design Center of the Philippines).
Debuting under the banner “dans l’espirit de l’asrtisan- créateur (In the spirit of the artisan-designer and an ode to the vision of founding directors of Design Center, Arturo Luz, OB Mapua, and Al de Lange),” the country’s inaugural presence at Révélations marks a major milestone in its creative journey as it joins 35 other nations in a global exchange of culture, history, and an evolving craft dialogue between tradition and innovation.
At the heart of the Philippine exhibition is a curatorial narrative that highlights the Philippines’ deep connection with nature and human ingenuity. As the curator notes, “Each object breathes the spirit of the land and seas of the Philippines and captures an intimate dialogue between material and maker.” The Banquet of the Philippines invites not only aesthetic appreciation of the country’s unique savoir-faire (know how), but also challenges the conventional understanding of fine craft by sparking curiosity, exploration, and asking how do we move tradition forward. The curated selection of artisan-designers, local materials and Philippine savoir-faire affirm a rich tapestry of creative traditions woven through daily life, bold artistic voices, and a deep sense of cultural imagination that aspires boldly and holds space for the next generation of expressions and possibilities.
Curated by Milo Naval, and in dialogue with Le Banquet curator Romain Juilha, the exhibition features six outstanding pieces from eight renowned Filipino designers that reflect the interconnection of nature, culture, and contemporary design:
Leeroy New and Christina Gaston worked with the women weavers of Sitio Melancholy, Cadiz, Negros Occiental in creating Hilaw, Layâ (Unripe, Withered), a sculptural piece made of cogon grass, abaca, wax thread, and bamboo beads. Inspired by the cycle of life, the piece explores the balance between growth and natural degradation.
Maricris and Jaime Brias’ Heart of Abaca honors the T’boli tradition of T’nalak weaving, layering T’nalak strips and abaca dipped in banana pulp into a form that grows upward like a flower, and by working with T’boli artisans in their livelihood center. The piece mirrors nature’s organic growth, symbolizing continuity and cultural evolution.
Jude Tiotuico, in collaboration with Olivia d’Abovill, creates Kaleidoscope, a sculpture of hammered steel and shibori-dyed silk from Rurungan sa Tubod Foundation. It captures papillons in motion, flowing together in indigo hues between light and shadow—a reflection of magic and strength of community in the flow of life.
Milo Naval’s untitled piece uses seashells and abaca in its rawest form, allowing its innate beauty and resilience to speak of heritage, strength, and transformation. The piece is in collaboration with Shelmed Cottage Treasures.
Neil Felipp shares Constellation, a story of an unreciprocated love told through a sculpture made of mother-of-pearl, white cabebe shell, white abalone shell, and brass using 3D technology and shell inlay techniques from Cebu.
Olivia d’Aboville presents Raffia Flowers, made with handwoven raffia polyester textiles from Cebu Interlace, pleating it and creating circular conic shapes resembling flowers. Industria Edition assisted in creating the metal stems.
The Philippines’ participation at the Révélations is led by the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines, whose DNA is rooted in the spirit of the artisan-designer. It recognizes the Philippines as a nation of makers, crafters, and creators, who use their minds, hands, and hearts to create new ideas, objects, images, experiences, and systems.
“The Philippine participation in Révélations is a critical component in our strategic initiative to locally and globally promote Philippine design that is deeply rooted in craft traditions and know how big with a modern proposition,” shares DTI-Design Center Executive Director Maria Rita O. Matute. “We approach this with a very conscious intention and attention towards the exceptional, particularly the pursuit of craft and design excellence.” Matute further emphasized that the exhibition is “not simply meant to let the global audience recognize and acknowledge Philippine fine crafts and creators but also to carve out space for Philippine artisan-designers to engage with a global market and to usher in a new way of creating.” The Philippines’ exhibition is a testament to a country brimming with tradition and ambition, bringing together art, craft, and design to shape how our nation is seen with new eyes and how our creative excellence is to be celebrated on the global stage.
Romain Juilha, Le Banquet curator, comments that “[The Philippines] is the only one on the 7th edition of the Banquet whose objects are made by four hands, six hands; it’s not only one artist, it is combining the crafters, the makers, and the designers.” He adds that the Philippine banquet exhibits how it deeply understood what Révélations is all about yet expertly communicated Philippine fine craft and the other aspects of materiality, and the know-how of each participating creator community.
Juilha added that it was very palpable that the Philippine banquet exuded a spirit that allowed the global Révélations community to have a window into Philippine savoir faire and this opens up a whole new set of possibilities for Philippine artisan-designers to engage with other exceptional creators and the market.
In the “Craft Practices and Challenges in the Modern Era” talk at Revelations participated in by Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Philippines, Matute emphasized that the Philippine participation envisions to bring the traditional know-how forward while connecting the next generation of artisan-designers to appreciate their heritage roots. She adds that there is space for innovation in the future of craft, but also acknowledges that there is also a need to be respectful of the space for heritage-based craft. Edric Ong of Society Atelier Sarawak echoes this statement, saying “that in the dual business model of slow craft and fast craft, there are sacred spaces for traditional high craft.” Matute further commented that the next generation of designers and creatives should not be simply made to choose between high craft and commercial craft, but it’s about learning how to manage a diverse portfolio of know-how, without having to cannibalize or to devalue the portfolio offerings.
Visitors are invited to experience the Philippine banquet up close at the historic Grand Palais and explore the depth and diversity of Filipino craftsmanship.
To learn more about the Philippine banquet at the Révélations, visit this link: Philippine Banquet at Revelations International Biennial of Craft and Creation or scan the QR code:
.ai%20(2).png)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)