Adelaide-based Filipino artist Peter Francisco unveils his new solo exhibition, De Lata, exploring culture, memory, and resilience through the humble canned good.
From sardinas to corned beef, fruit cocktail to condensed milk, canned foods—de lata—hold a special place in Filipino life. They are everyday staples that carry stories of survival, celebration, and care. In De Lata, Francisco transforms these familiar pantry items into vibrant works of art that speak to cultural identity and nostalgia.
Already his best-selling series of 2025—with works collected across Asia and Europe, from Manila to Cebu, and Germany to Amsterdam—De Lata now makes its Adelaide debut in a special solo exhibition at Seafaring Fools, Glenelg South.
Launching on Friday, 10 October 2025, 5:00–7:00 PM, the exhibition showcases Francisco’s paintings of iconic canned foods. The works pay tribute to both the resilience and playfulness of Filipino households. With a cheeky nod to Andy Warhol’s soup cans, Francisco reclaims and localises pop art, elevating Filipino de lata into cultural icons that are deeply personal yet universally relatable.
“This series began as a way for me to paint the foods that reminded me of home,” Francisco shares. “I never expected these cans to travel so far. Now, it feels special to finally show them here in Adelaide, my adoptive home.”
He adds:
“Like many Filipinos, canned goods have always been a big part of my story growing up. It’s the corned beef my family stretched to feed us all, the fruit cocktail at birthdays, the SPAM from balikbayan relatives, and the sardinas during hard times. Painting them allows me to stay connected to these memories, and in the process, to the many in the Filipino community around the world who resonate with the story of each can.”
The exhibition will be accompanied by the lively atmosphere of Seafaring Fools, with Fools Burger open from 5–8 PM for food and drinks on opening night. Entry is free, with RSVPs available via Humanitix.
Launch Event Details
Date: Friday, 10 October 2025
Time: 5:00–7:00 PM
Venue: Seafaring Fools, Glenelg South, SA 5045
Entry: Free (RSVP via Humanitix)
Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/de-lata
