“Kumain Ka Na?” – Filipino Migration and Identity Explored in New Wien Museum Exhibit

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Exhibit Dates: 12 June – 31 August 2025
Opening Night: 11 June, 17:00–22:00
Venue: Wien Museum Community Gallery

This summer, the Wien Museum Community Gallery presents Kumain Ka Na? (Have You Eaten?), an exhibition curated by Chelsea Amada that explores the stories of Filipino migration through the lens of food, care, and identity. Running from June 12 to August 31, 2025, the exhibit focuses on the first generation of Filipino nurses who came to Austria in the 1970s and how their legacy continues through the lives of their children and grandchildren.

The exhibition opens to the public with a special evening event on 11 June from 17:00 to 22:00. Visitors will enjoy Filipino food, fashion, and art, with the official program starting at 18:30.

Migration, Care, and Cultural Resilience

In 1973, Austria and the Philippines signed a bilateral agreement that began the recruitment of Filipino nurses to Austria. Fifty years later, Kumain Ka Na? reflects on the deep impact of that migration, from the personal sacrifices of the nurses to the evolving identity of the Filipino-Austrian community.

At its core, the exhibit explores how Filipino families demonstrate love not through words, but through acts of care. The title, Kumain Ka Na?, is a simple question that carries emotional weight. In Filipino culture, asking “Have you eaten?” often serves as a substitute for “I love you.” It’s a quiet but powerful gesture of love, especially for families separated by distance or navigating life in a new country.

Art, Voices, and Community

The show highlights photography by Chelsea Amada, Ryan Noel, and Ina Aydoğan, capturing intimate moments and community life. Interactive workshops—curated by Charmaine Taus in collaboration with the Sige! Verein—invite visitors to engage with Filipino culture firsthand.

Rather than simply presenting migration as a story of hardship, the exhibition honors the strength and creativity of a community that continues to grow. It demonstrates how a workforce of predominantly female caregivers helped establish a vibrant cultural bridge between the Philippines and Austria, blending tradition with a modern identity.