💡 08. Introducing Derek Tumala
Derek Tumala is a Filipino artist exploring the intersection between art, technology, and science, with a focus on environmental issues and ecological worldbuilding.
Derek Tumala: About the Artist
Derek Tumala was born and is based in Manila, Philippines. He explores the intersection between art, technology, and science. Tumala works within this interdisciplinary realm to experiment with ecological world-making. He is very interested in the mutual relationship between humans and their built/natural environments, specifically climate change and its profound effects on the Phillippines. In his other creative practices, Tumala also takes inspiration from rave culture, challenging the elitism of museum culture and celebrating freedom of community instead. He also founded an independent art/science initiative called STEAM/Projects in 2016, which hosted workshops, exhibitions, and other collaborations.
Contacts: Find Tumala on his Instagram :)
Project Spotlight: Kayamanan ng Pilipinas (Treasures of the Philippines)
This project, titled Kayamanan ng Pilipinas, or Treasures of the Philippines in English, is a single channel video installation designed by Tumala in 2020-2021. The live atmospheric conditions in Manila are transmitted from an online weather program into a digital environment, which depicts a vibrant assembly of native greeneries. As the conditions in Manilla change, so does the scenery, reflecting the ups and downs of local weather.
Thoughts: Personal Reflections and Connections
I really admire Tumala’s interest in studying climate change and its effects on the Filipino community. I find environmental studies to be an incredibly interdisciplinary field, and it is always enlightening to see how artists incorporte themes of ecocriticism and environmental justice within their practice. Climate change is and will inevitably dominate the fate of our collective futures. Arguably, any art that seeks to address it must reconcile with past consequences, attempt to modify present frameworks, and come to terms with the future.
Similar to Lintang Radittya and perhaps even moreso, Tumala has collaborated with a number of research institutes in creating his ecology and sustainability driven projects. He underwent a residency at the Manila Observatory for Tropical Climate Forensics, and he consulted RENDER Climate regarding the technical aspects of his recent work, a warm oranged coloured liquid (see Instagram post embedded below). Prior to researching for the Visions project, I did not have a lot of exposure to this type of transdisciplinary partnership. However, the more I read about them, the more in love I am with the spirit of community and creativity they can foster. I would love to engage with similar residencies and programs, should they come my way.
Resources and Further Readings 📖
This entry is just a simple introduction to Derek Tumala and his body of work. If you are interested in exploring his process, practice, and philosophy in greater depth, I have gathered below a little index of resources that I found very informative. I have also starred sources that were exceptionally in-depth and enlightening.
- More about Tumala:
- ⭐ ArtReview selected Tumala as one of their Future Greats 2024:
- ⭐ Out of Print PH’s glowing feature of Tumala:
- ⭐ Lifestyle.INQ’s interview with Tumala regarding his incorporation of rave culture in artistic practice:
Photograph of a warm orange coloured liquid, created by Derek Tumala in collaboration with RENDER Climate for commissioned by 10 Days of Art Fair in Philippines. As posted by Tumala and RENDER Climate on Instagram ⬇️