Ria Unson Unveils "Artifacts of Empire" at the Kling Family Gallery, Lambert St. Louis Airport in celebration of the St. Louis Filipino Community and Filipino American History Month
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Dressed Cost, 2024. Ria Unson, in collaboration with Rockie Sharon. aluminum, copper, cotton fabric, dried flowers, moss, plastic (Source: riaunson.com)
St. Louis, MO – October 22, 2024 – The Kling Family Gallery at Lambert St. Louis Airport is proud to present "Artifacts of Empire," a solo art exhibition by Filipino American artist, Ria Unson. Running through January 2025, this thought-provoking collection explores the intricate relationships between the constructed narratives of imperialism and capitalism and their profound impact on culture and identity.
The exhibition intentionally coincides with the celebration of Filipino American History Month (October) in a year that marks the 120th anniversary of the World’s Fair in St. Louis, an event that included the display of over 1,200 Filipinos as part of “the largest human zoo in world history.” The exhibition reclaims St. Louis as a space for its thriving present-day Filipino community and rewrites the racially charged narratives about Filipinos that were seeded in St. Louis in 1904.
Ria Unson, known for her ability to weave complex stories through visual art, invites viewers to engage with the ways in which historical narratives have shaped contemporary society. "Artifacts of Empire" presents a diverse array of works that serve as both instruments and products of empire. Through a variety of mediums, including mixed media, installation, and sculpture, Unson provokes dialogue around the legacies of imperialism and the commodification of culture.
“I use published text as structural elements in my art.” Unson explains. “With this collection, I aim to challenge audiences to reconsider the narratives we accept and the identities we construct by recontextualizing words with found and constructed objects, collage, and portrait painting.”
"Artifacts of Empire" is accessible to the general public and free of charge, located on the ground floor of Terminal 1 near Exit 11, close to the C Concourse Exit.
For more information about Ria Unson and "Artifacts of Empire," please visit the Kling Family Gallery on artoftravelstl.com or riaunson.com.
About Ria Unson
Ria Unson is an award-winning Filipino American visual artist based in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born in Manila and migrated to the United States at age 13. Unbeknownst to her, her great-grandfather was part of the inaugural cohort of Filipino pensionados who were brought to St. Louis for the Filipino “human zoo” at the 1904 World’s Fair. By sheer coincidence (or destiny), Ria found herself over 100 years post-fair, living in the historic neighborhood that once housed the Philippine exhibit. Ria studied fine art at Northwestern University. She has been featured on PBS and in The New York Times and her art is in the Missouri History Museum’s permanent collection.
About Kling Family Gallery
The Kling Family Gallery, formerly known as The Lambert Gallery, was unveiled in March 2012 as a dedicated exhibition space located in Terminal 1. This highly visible space is accessible to the general public and is the primary place where people gather to meet arriving passengers from the C Concourse. The Kling Family Gallery provides the opportunity for many different forms of art to be displayed, including interactive exhibitions.
