The pressroom CROSSING CULTURES AND BORDERS THROUGH THE CAMERA: M MUSEUM OPENS "BEHIND THE LENS"

CROSSING CULTURES AND BORDERS THROUGH THE CAMERA: M MUSEUM OPENS "BEHIND THE LENS"

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Press release - Published today at 16h00, updated today at 17h15

Metropolitan Museum of Manila

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In its 50-year history, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (M Museum) has presented more than 50 photography exhibitions, reflecting the medium’s enduring role in documenting culture and society. Continuing this legacy, the museum opened Behind the Lens: Cultural and Border Crossings, 1950–2000s on August 5, 2026, bringing together the works of National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, photojournalists Romeo Gacad and George Gascon, and documentary photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani.

CROSSING CULTURES AND BORDERS THROUGH THE CAMERA: M MUSEUM OPENS

BEHIND THE LENS

Long before social media and algorithms began shaping what we see and how we see it, photographers were already documenting the people, places, and moments that define our lives. Spanning photographs from the 1950s to the 2000s, the exhibition brings together works by photojournalists and documentary photographers through distinct perspectives and approaches.

While F. Sionil Jose is best known as a celebrated writer, the exhibition reveals his keen eye as a visual storyteller. George Gascon’s photographs offer a rare glimpse into his work as the personal photographer of Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, while also capturing the diverse cultures of Singapore and the Philippines. Xyza Cruz Bacani’s powerful images confront human rights issues, alongside a more intimate body of work that tenderly explores human connections. Meanwhile, Romeo Gacad, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and three-time nominee, is represented by two of the photographs that earned him Pulitzer finalist recognition, alongside compelling images documenting conflict during his overseas assignments for Agence France-Presse.

Behind the Lens: Cultural and Border Crossings 1950-2000s is on view until 11 October 2026 at the 3/F South Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. The exhibition is in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, with the support of Agence France-Presse.

ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MANILA

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (M Museum) is an art museum in the heart of the city showcasing modern and contemporary art by Filipino and international artists. Founded in 1976, the museum seeks to shape a deeper understanding and heightened awareness of Philippine artistic and cultural heritage, as well as the links that connect people from all walks of life. Its commitment to contemporary art in all its forms and community engagement is reflected in its robust and varied exhibition and education programming.

To celebrate its fiftieth year in 2026, the M Museum today actively pursues a broad mission of ART FOR ALL, a unifying theme amidst a rapidly changing world.