The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) Main Gallery is gearing up for the opening of Dream Jungle, a multi-artist exhibition featuring a diverse range of commissioned works and notable loans, set to take place on January 29, 2026. Curator Matthew Villar Miranda has curated a dynamic selection of creations from artists Alexa Burrell (LEXAGON), Adrian Clutario, Al-An de Souza, Astria Suparak, and the late Carlos Villa. The exhibit, which runs until May 2, also incorporates archival elements from The Center for the Study of the Study of the Tasaday and Jessica Hagedorn Papers at The Bancroft Library.
The exhibition is an exploration of identity, representation, and power, aiming to challenge and reimagine colonial narratives through what Miranda calls "tropical counter-ethnographies," which includes performance art elements such as scripting, scoring, and character building, the show opens in the SFAC Main Gallery located in the War Memorial Veterans Building and promises a bold conversation-stirrer in the city's artistic landscape. "We are thrilled to work with this extraordinary group of artists, The Center for the Study of the Study of the Tasaday, and the Bancroft Library, to make this thought-provoking exhibition possible," Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs, told the San Francisco Arts Commission.
The project explores the themes presented in Jessica Hagedorn's 2003 novel "Dream Jungle," which examines the concept of truth in imperial narratives set within the Philippine jungle. Its assortment of artistic expressions ranges from installations to literature and video, engaging with archival materials that date back to Hagedorn's early drafts and correspondence pieces from 1974 through 2006. These reveal the author's in-depth analyses of power structures within Philippine society and the Filipino American experience, offering insights that underpin the current exhibition at the SFAC Gallery.
The gallery will be open from Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, welcoming all visitors free of charge, and continuing its mission to facilitate provocative dialogues. The art show sets forth a series of public programs, including live performances, interactive tasting experiences, and a celebratory tea dance. An opening reception is scheduled for January 29 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, with remarks by the curator at 6:30 PM.
