"Dark Memories" by Rick Rocamora Book Launch

Join award-winning documentary photographer Rick Rocamora as he launches his newest publication Dark Memories: Torture, Incarceration, Disappearance, and Death During Martial Law at the Ateneo Art Gallery this November 28, Tuesday, 2:00pm. Marking his seventh photo book, Dark Memories features sixty-five portraits accompanied by firsthand accounts and shared narratives from individuals and groups who were victims of Martial Law in the Philippines during the 70s stretching up to the 80s.

The program is free and open to the public, with guests highly encouraged to register their slot at https://go.ateneo.net/DarkMemories beforehand.

Rocamora started working on the project in 2011 as his contribution to the collective efforts of institutions and individuals to make sure that the dark memories experienced during the tumultuous time of Martial Law will not be forgotten. This also serves as a way to share these stories with younger generations today. Featured in the publication are portraits of Pete Lacaba, Bonifacio Ilagan, Neri Colmenares, Loretta “Etta” Rosales, Susan Araneta, Tina Bawagan, Fulgencio “Jun” Factoran, Jr. and Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr, among others. Each face represents thousands more whose lives were changed with the imposition of Martial Law in 1972.

A first glimpse of the project was seen in Rocamora’s exhibition (entitled with the same name) mounted at the Ateneo Art Gallery last September 15, 2022 to April 5, 2023 which featured forty-nine photographs at the time. This was in tandem with Edgar Doctor’s “Alaala ng Martial Law” in line with the ML@50 campaign to showcase works documenting personal experiences and family stories during martial law. The exhibitions are now available for viewing virtually at ateneoartgallery.com.

Dark Memories: Torture, Incarceration, Disappearance, and Death During Martial Law is published with support from Goethe-Institut Philippines. Guests may avail the book at a launch price of Php 1,000.00 per copy during the event. The book will then be available at the Ateneo Art Gallery Museum Shop for Php 1,500.00 after the launch. For more information, visit ateneoartgallery.com or email aag@ateneo.edu.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Rick Rocamora is an award-winning documentary photographer and author of 5 photo books. His works are a part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. His latest photobook was on Muslim-Americans​, published by Tokyo University of Foreign Studies last November 2022.