“‘Handaan’ is a tagalog term meaning a feast, party or lavish gathering that features an abundance of prepared food, often held to celebrate special occasions like birthdays, fiestas or holidays. It reflects Filipino culture’s emphasis on community, generosity and hospitality, derived from the root word ‘handa’ (ready/prepared).”
Mariadelle gamit presents a plate of food that signals to most Filipinos, dishes that are commonly found during a family gathering. However it is fragmented, prompting questions about the origins of the images themselves. Google-searched stock images of varying resolutions, video calls through phone, screenshots, social media ‘foodie’ ephemera – culminate in a spread that portrays diasporic identity and gatherings that are more often commonly not shared in person.
‘Handaan’ as featured in the group exhibition ‘A Family Gathering’ (Naarm) for the 2026 Asian Heritage Week curated by Platform Presents
photos from the opening & process
