Philippine artistry takes center stage at Révélations Paris 2025

PARIS, France – In a landmark moment for Filipino design, the Philippines made a highly anticipated debut at Révélations 2025 – Biennale Internationale Métiers d’Art et Création, held from 21 to 25 May 2025, at the Grand Palais in Paris. Spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its Design Center of the Philippines (DCP), and supported by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Paris (PTIC-Paris), the exhibition took the center stage at Révélations – Le Banquet des Philippines, capturing the attention of an international audience through its vibrant celebration of Filipino craftsmanship and creativity. 

This inaugural participation at Révélations, the prestigious international biennial for fine craft and contemporary creation, served as a ground-breaking platform to highlight the exceptional artistry, cultural heritage, and innovation of Filipino artisan-designers. “Le Banquet,” a signature component of the biennial, presented a collection of works that embodies the deep-rooted connection between nature, craft, and talent in the Filipino creative process. 

“Our presence at Révélations is a powerful testament to the ingenuity of Filipino design and the DTI’s strategic advocacy for a more visible, empowered, and future-ready Filipino creative economy,” stated Katrina Banzon, Commercial Counsellor and Director of PTIC-Paris. “This exhibit showcases how our artisan-designers masterfully transform humble, indigenous materials into pieces of global appeal, affirming the Philippines’ place in the international design landscape.” 

Curated by renowned Filipino designer Milo Naval, “Le Banquet des Philippines” presented a comprehensive narrative of collaborative works from both renowned and upcoming artists. The showcased pieces profoundly underscored the dynamic push and pull between tradition and modernity, illustrating how indigenous techniques and age-old practices thoughtfully play with contemporary forms and narratives. As the curatorial word articulated, “Each object breathes the spirit of the land and seas of the Philippines and captures an intimate dialogue between material and maker”. 

Mastering Materials: The Featured Artworks at “Le Banquet des Philippines” 

The exhibition proudly showcased six exceptional pieces, each a unique testament to Filipino artistry, innovative design, and the masterful transformation of natural Philippine materials: 

• Raffia Flowers by Olivia d’Aboville: This stunning piece is crafted from handwoven raffia polyester textiles sourced from Cebu Interlace. D’Aboville’s design involves pleating and shaping these materials into elegant, circular conic forms resembling flowers, with sophisticated metal stems from Industria Edition adding structural grace. 

• Untitled by Milo Naval Design Studio: Demonstrating his renown for minimalist, nature-inspired furniture, Milo Naval’s piece thoughtfully utilizes seashells and abaca in their rawest forms. The design allows their innate beauty and resilience to express themes of heritage, strength, and transformation, in collaboration with Shelmed Cottage Treasures. 

• Heart of Abaca by Maricris & Jaime Brias of Tadeco Home: This piece deeply honors the T’boli tradition of T’nalak weaving, layering strips of T’nalak and abaca that have been dipped in banana pulp. The design culminates in an upward-growing, flower-like form, mirroring nature’s organic growth and symbolizing continuity and cultural evolution. This artwork was created by working directly with T’boli artisans at their livelihood center. 

• Kaleidoscope by Jude Tiotuico of Industria Edition: In a collaboration with Olivia d’Aboville and Rurungan sa Tubod Foundation, Tiotuico’s sculpture skillfully combines hammered steel with shibori-dyed silk. The design captures the dynamic motion of “papillons” (butterflies), flowing in indigo hues between light and shadow, and serves as a reflection of the magic and strength found in community. 

• Constellation by Neil Felipp: Known for his intricate designs, Felipp’s sculpture beautifully tells a story of unreciprocated love through an exquisite assembly of mother-of-pearl, white cabebe shell, white abalone shell, and brass. The piece showcases advanced 3D technology combined with traditional shell inlay techniques from Cebu. 

• Hilaw, Laya (Unripe, Withered) by Leeroy New & Christina Gaston: This collaborative sculpture is a poignant exploration of the cycle of life, crafted from cogon grass, abaca, wax thread, and bamboo beads. The designers worked closely with the women weavers of Sitio Melancholy, Cadiz, Negros Occidental, to create a piece that beautifully explores the balance between growth and natural degradation. 

This successful participation underscores the DTI’s strategic efforts to elevate the Philippines as a source of high-value, design-driven products by empowering local communities, enhancing cultural visibility, and deepening global market engagement for Filipino-made crafts. It is a continuation of the DTI’s mission to strengthen the global presence of the country’s creative industries, in alignment with the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904). 

The DTI extends its utmost gratitude to all the talented artisan-designers, their collaborators, and partners who contributed to this landmark debut, further solidifying the Philippines’ reputation for creative excellence.  

PTIC-Paris remains committed to fostering stronger trade and investment ties between the Philippines and France, especially in the vibrant creative sector. 

To discover more about the Philippines’ creative industries and explore potential collaborations, visit https://dti-stg.beesites.net/ and follow PTIC-Paris on our social media channels. 

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Date of Release: 09 June 2025