Kumain kana? Have You Eaten?

Vienna is connected to the Philippines through a unique history of migration: It began in 1973 with a bilateral agreement on the recruitment of nurses, a document that was renewed in 2023. The exhibition at the Wien Museum brings the resulting developments to life: It tells of the challenges and achievements of the first generation of nurses and sheds light on the subsequent generations' search for identity as well as their cultural contributions.

The presentation in the Community Gallery is not only dedicated to migration and integration, however. It also addresses the subtle language of love in Filipino families. The titular expression - the question “Kumain kana?” (Have you eaten yet?) - is exemplary. The phrase often replaces direct statemens of love and thus embodies a form of affection and care characteristic of Filipino communities, one that is conveyed through practical actions rather than words. In the diaspora, “Kumain kana?” becomes a bridge between past and present, a symbol of silent but deep parental love that endures both in the homeland and in the new environment.

The exhibition shows how a group of mostly female caregivers grew into a community characterized by cultural strength and a strong connection between tradition and modernity. Workshops with Filipino artists and cultural practitioners also provide insights into the life and creative perspectives of the community.

Curator: Chelsea Amada
Photographers: Chelsea Amada, Ryan Noel, Ina Aydoğan
Workshops programming: Charmaine Taus, Sige! Verein
Team Wien Museum: Frauke Kreutler, Ümit Mares-Altinok, Michaela Kronberger
Exhibition graphics: Cati Krüger
Exhibition Architecture: Robert Rüf