A floating platform made of black containers supports a wooden surface with two green crates, a white bucket, a metal tin, black and red plastic stools, and a large blue umbrella with "CRUX" text, set in a bare, white room.

Mark Salvatus Open Studio

Join artist-in-residence Mark Salvatus for an Open Studio presenting research and works-in-progress developed during his month-long residency at Studio Voltaire. The artist will be present to share insights into his process and discuss the ideas behind his work.

During his residency, Salvatus has been developing the project Alternating Currents, which explores Filipino writer and revolutionary José Rizal’s time at the British Museum between 1888 and 1889.

In his Open Studio, Salvatus will present a study room featuring his artistic engagement to Philippine objects currently held in London’s public collections, alongside a curated selection of publications from the SOAS library.

At 2 pm, Salvatus will be in conversation with Dr. Maria Cristina Juan, Research Fellow and Project Head of Philippine Studies at SOAS. Throughout the open studio, Salvatus will be joined by collaborators, including Ringo Bunoan, Jason Dy SJ, Noel Ed de Leon and Jun Terra, for workshops, performances, and short presentations.

Supported by the British Council’s Connections Through Culture Programme.

  1. Mark Salvatus (b. 1980, Lucban, Philippines) is a Filipino artist residing in Manila. Salvatus’ exhibitions include the Philippine Pavilion, Venice Art Biennale, Italy, 2024; and Venice Architecture Biennale, Italy, 2016; Asian Art Biennial, Taichung, Taiwan, 2021; 2nd Lahore Biennale, Pakistan, 2020; Sharjah Biennale, United Arab Emirates, 2019; the 3rd Singapore Biennale, 2011; and the PCAN Pavilion at Gwangju Biennale, Republic of Korea, 2018. Salvatus's work has also been exhibited at institutions including MMCA, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan; Kyoto Art Center, Japan; ISCP, New York, United States; Jameel Art Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin, Germany.

    Salvatus co-founded Load na Dito in 2016 with Mayumi Hirano, a curatorial and research initiative based in Manila. Their recent project was presented at the 1st Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, United Arab Emirates, in 2024.

  2. Dr Maria Cristina Juan is a scholar specialising in transnational Philippine cultural studies, with a particular focus on digital and material repatriation. As Head of Philippine Studies at SOAS, University of London, she has pioneered initiatives that digitally reconnect Philippine cultural heritage with its communities of origin. Her work critically examines the legacies of colonial collecting while exploring the potential of digital technologies for preservation, reconstruction and repatriation. She directs the Mapping Philippine Material Culture initiative and serves as Principal Investigator on several Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded projects that develop digital platforms that reunite dispersed collections and investigate how digital spaces can function as reparative and decolonising frameworks – challenging established canons and advancing alternative models of knowledge production and cultural stewardship.

  3. If you have any questions or need assistance with your visit, please feel welcome to contact us at +44 (0) 20 7622 1294 or access@studiovoltaire.org. Read Studio Voltaire's full access information here.

  4. Mark Salvatus, C_rafts, 2011. Image courtesy of the artist.

Artist Mark Salvatus: a man with short dark hair and a trimmed beard wears a patterned short-sleeve shirt, standing with his hands in his pockets. He looks to the side. Behind him are large industrial air-conditioning units and a concrete wall, lit neutrally.

Mark Salvatus Residency

Residency