Living in the year 2014 it is quite clear that our surrounding and we are characterized by our personal, national, economic and ecological history, however recent or ancient. The concept of migration as an integral part of a national construct has always been challenging with regards to social integration, civil rights and integrity of traditions. From the Migration Period in Europe, to colonization, to globalization - migration is a matter of economic prospects and/or political motives. With regards to the Philippines, the settlements could be traced back more than 30,000 years ago during through archaeological records of Homo sapiens. The transformation of empires, trade routes and progress have since then been influencing the formation of the political and social landscape of the country. In the 13th century, Chinese traders started inhabiting Luzon. Approximately 200 years later, the Spaniards arrived and with them the colonial history of the country.

Dexter Sy, who was born in Manila in 1979, artistically approaches the cultural particularities of being a Chinese-Filipino. The coexistence of two traditional value systems, which are both seemingly equally waning in day-to-day life in the contemporary era, perform as theoretical source for his painting. Abundant allusions to religious, traditional and contemporary matters are to be found in Sy's carefully arranged paintings. Applying iconographic depiction in a classic pictorial composition, the artist emphasizes the cultural patchwork. The works are reminiscent of thoroughly elaborated mind-maps and assembled selective retentions. It is as though the works are subconsciously staged as altarpieces estranged from its reliquary character through the depiction of nonreligious elements, contemporary references and a vibrant, traditional Chinese color palette.

Dexter Sy artistically translates the cloning of morphed cultural representations with stylized, two-dimensional painting.

Biography

1979 Born in Manila, Philippines

2005 Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Advertising, Far Eastern University (Philippines)

Exhibitions and Projects (2005-2019, Selection)

2019
1335MABINI (PH)(solo)
Art in the Park 2019, Jaime Velasquez Park (PH)(solo)
Afterworld Obliteration Alliance Francaise, Makati, (PH)(solo)
Art fair Philippines, 1335MABINI (PH)


2018
Art Expo Malaysia Art Fair G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Pinto Manhattan 2 Pinto Museum and Asian Cultural Council, New York (USA)
The Way of The Flesh G13 Gallery, Malaysia
Cumulus Blimp 1335MABINI(PH)
Art fair Philippines, 1335MABINI (PH)
Pintokyo Pinto Museum and Asian Cultural Council, Shibuya, Tokyo (JP)
CANVAS: Looking for Juan, Bulwagan ng Dangal, UP Diliman, (PH)

2017
Poop Art Sea Jae-in Museum, South Korea (KR)
Pinto Manhattan Manila Pinto Gallery, Manhattan, New York (USA)
Afterworld Obliteration Alliance Francaise, Centre Intermondes, La Rochelle, FR(solo)
Forms and Formless Ayala Artist Space, Ayala Museum (PH)(solo)
Art Taipei Gallery Kogure Tokyo Japan, Taipei , Taiwan
Pinto Manhattan Manila  Urban Zen, Manhattan (NY)
Artstage Singapore Gallery Zimmermann Kratochwill (SGP)
Artfair Philippines Galerie Michael Janssen (PH)
Artfair Philippines  1335MABINI (PH)

2016
Terrain, UP Vargas Museum, Diliman, Quezon City (PH) (solo)
Tales from the land of 7000 Islands, Di legno Gallery (SG)
2,995KM, Gallerie Kogure, Tokyo (JP)

 2015
Above Us, Haslla Art World Museum (HAWM) (KR) (solo)
Identity Crisis, 1335MABINI, Manila (PH) (Solo)
Order of ObjectsAfter Arrival,  Project Space Pilipinas (PH) 
Inevitably Imperfect 2,  Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, Makati (PH)
Re-View,  Bencab Museum, Baguio City, Benguet (PH) 
Imago mundi,  Luciano Benetton Collection, Rome (IT)

2014
Morpheus, The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, California (US)
All Things Pass, Boston Gallery, Quezon City (PH) (solo)
Appetite for Self Destruction, 1335MABINI, Manila (PH) (solo)
Re: View, Bencab Museum, Baguio City, Benguet (PH) 
Sinners and Saint, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila (PH) 
Myths and Legends, UP Vargas Museum, Diliman, Quezon City (PH)

2013
Re: View, Bencab Museum, Baguio City(PH)
Alay16, Boston Gallery, Quezon City(PH) 
Frankenstein Show, Vinyl on Vinyl, Makati City(PH) 
3rd Year Anniversary Show, Vinyl on Vinyl, Makati City(PH) 
Lineage,  Boston Gallery, Quezon City(PH) (solo)
The Coaster Show, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, California(US)
Inevitably Imperfect, Artery Post-Modern Gallery, Bangkok(TH)
Asia Artist Exhibition, Haslla Art World Museum(KR)

2012
If things were perfect, West Gallery, Quezon City(PH) (solo)
Chasing my own tail, Boston Gallery, Quezon City(PH) (solo)
Re: View, Bencab Museum, Baguio City(PH) 
Alay15,  Boston Gallery, Quezon City(PH)
After Dali, Now Gallery, Makati City(PH)
Bototoy, Secret Fresh, San Juan(PH) 
Philippine Art Awards (Philip Morris), National Museum, Manila(PH)
After Mirth, Altromondo Gallery, Makati City(PH) (group)

2011
Dia de los muertos, Secret Fresh, San Juan(PH) 
VSO, Ayala Museum, Makati City(PH) 
Alay 14, Boston Gallery, Quezon City(PH) 
Munnyfestation, Blanc Gallery, Makati City(PH) 
Re: View, Bencab Museum, Baguio City(PH) 
Philippine Art Awards (Philip Morris), National Museum, Manila(PH) 
CientoCincuenta, Pinto Museum, Antipolo(PH) 
Roaring twenty and more, Altromondo Gallery, Makati City(PH)
Point of Difference, Boston Gallery, Quezon City(PH) (solo)
Haslla Art World Museum (KR) 
Shanghai Exhibition Center, Shanghai (CH)

2010
Tutok, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila(PH)
Re: View, Bencab Museum, Baguio City, Benguet (PH)
Visayas Biennale SM City, Trade hall 2, Cebu City(PH) 
Enemy, Art Center, SM Megamall (Paseo Gallery), Mandaluyong City(PH) 
Watching the wheels(tribute to John Lennon), Ayala Museum, Makati City(PH) 
Philippine Art Awards (Philip Morris), National Museum, Manila(PH)
Dynasty, Kaida Contemporary, Quezon City(PH) (solo)
Asian Art Fairnale, Haslla World Art Museum(KR)
Anima Orientale,Utterly Art Exhibition Space(SG)

2009
Philippine Art Awards (Philip Morris), National Museum, Manila(PH)
Tutok, Manila Contemporary, Makati City(PH)

2008
Tutok, Blanc Art Space, Makati City(PH)
Sanctus, Big and Small Art Co., Mandaluyong City(PH) (solo)

2007
Philippine Art Awards (Philip Morris), National Museum, Manila(PH)
Tutok, ArtspaceGlorietta, Makati City(PH)
Boxed, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila(PH)
Kalawang at Lipunan, The Crucible Gallery, Mandaluyong City(PH)

2005
Philippine Art Awards (Philip Morris), National Museum, Manila(PH)
The 22nd Korea New Art Festival (KR)