Marigold Santos Establishes Herself

Marigold Santos’s exhibition, “Epiphytic Elucidations” at Patel Brown Gallery in Toronto, engages deeply with the symbolism of epiphytes – plants that grow on other plants harmlessly. Her work explores the complex formation of diasporas through material labor, using plant life as an allegory for her ideas. Key pieces include “shroud epiphyte (bilibid chair),” which references historical injustices and colonial exploitation through the lens of a rattan peacock chair, and “nacre,” an assemblage of capiz shells transforming into a mythical aswang. The artwork “shroud (kalabaw and death mask)” juxtaposes a water buffalo with a gold-masked figure, symbolizing cultural legacies and colonial histories. Santos’s approach is rooted in the tactile and structural, emphasizing the resilience and continuous effort required to sustain diasporic identities. Her work reminds viewers of the intertwined legacies of oppression and artistry, embodying a persistence that refuses erasure. The exhibition is on view until February 28 at Patel Brown, Toronto, inviting audiences to reflect on the labor and cultural transmissions that define the diasporic experience.