Philippine Consulate General Hosts Premiere Of “Courage” Visual Art Exhibit By Filipino Immigration Lawyer Elaine Antonio-Bordeaux

The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona presented the premiere of the bronze sculpture exhibit "Courage," by Filipino immigration lawyer and alumni of the Barcelona Academy of Arts Elaine Antonio-Bordeaux, on 16 October 2023 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Hall.

Drawing a crowd of nearly a hundred, the event was graced by the Catalunya’s Ministry of Culture-Technical Office Head Francesc Vilaró i Casalinas. The exhibit is one of the Consulate's highlighted activities in observance of the 2023 Museum and Galleries Month.

The exhibit features a collection of 12 sculptures that represent notable personalities and iconic symbols from Bordeaux’s native Philippines and her adopted home of the State of Colorado, USA. Atty. Bordeaux’s experiences as a refugee lawyer and an advocate for the rights of immigrants, along with her Filipino heritage as a native of Cavite, are embodied in the artworks on display, which will run until 30 October 2023.

Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro welcomed everyone to the exhibit and encouraged those present to immerse themselves in the stories conveyed in each of the artworks displayed. “I hope that you will all be inspired by the subjects of Atty. Antonio’s works find strength, beauty, and courage in our world, no matter what,” added Consul General Lazaro.

According to the artist, the title of her exhibit “Courage” stems from her drive to leave her comfort zone and pursue her dreams and her passions. She also intimated, “Even if my career is in the legal field, my heart belongs to art as it allows me to express my soul and emotions freely and it is also an avenue to promote my culture and my roots.”

Apart from being an immigration lawyer, Atty. Bordeaux is the President of the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting Philippine arts, culture and history. Her advocacy for protecting the rights of human trafficking victims, ensuring the protection of Filipino workers and her projects promoting the Philippines earned her the distinction of being awarded as one of the Most Influential Filipina Woman 2023 given by the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network.

One of the attendees, Ms. Roxanne Ballo, a Filipino postgraduate student at the Barcelona School of Economics and a first-time attendee at an event at the Consulate expressed her gratitude for being invited to the exhibit. She was elated to see a sculpture of Apo Whang-Od, not only because she had the privilege of getting a tattoo from her, but more importantly, as she shared, “An artist in the person of Atty. Elaine, is celebrating the talent of a fellow artist who is a legend and a Philippine icon in her own right.”

The details of the two-week exhibit have been posted on the social media accounts of Barcelona PCG. Groups of individuals have already signified their intention to visit the exhibition which will run until the 30th of October 2023 culminating this Post’s activities related to the Museum and Galleries Month for 2023.

For more information and updates, please visit the Consulate's official website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X (@PHinBarcelona).

Atty. Elaine Antonio-Bordeaux donating the Philippine tarsier artwork to the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona