Karl Mata Hipol
Residency period: June, July and November, 2024
Karl Mata Hipol, Sawali: Blueprint of Reclamation (Detail), 2022.
Archival inkjet print on Tyvek. 100 x 40 inches.
Photo by Khim Hipol
Karl Mata Hipol is a Filipino Canadian multidisciplinary artist and curator from the unceded territories of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. He holds a BFA in Visual Arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design (2022). His artistic endeavours intricately utilize archival collections to explore the presence, or absence, of Filipinos in Canada.
Project description
His research project aims to meticulously unravel the often-overlooked story of Filipino migration to Canada, while simultaneously challenging established stereotypes and creating meaningful connections through visual storytelling. This artistic voyage is a ripple effect moved by the groundbreaking discovery of ‘Benson Flores,’ the first-ever documented Filipino to immigrate in 1861 by Filipino journalist Joseph Lopez. To underpin his research, Hipol will explore the AGO’s collection for corroborative evidence. His work will deconstruct archival materials and reconstruct them into a large-scale canvas weaving, drawing inspiration from the intricate tradition of Filipino Abel (weaving).
