Cruz, Mideo M.

Born in Cabanatuan City in 1973, Mideo M. Cruz is a highly decorated multi-disciplinary artist and cultural activist based in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija. He received his formal artistic training at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) College of Architecture and Fine Arts, majoring in Painting, from 1990 to 1995.

Cruz's career is defined by a massive global footprint in the international performance art circuit, alongside an extensive history of curating independent, socially engaged regional projects. Because of his uncompromising stance on freedom of expression, his work has frequently sat at the center of national conversations regarding art, censorship, and civil liberties.

Major Awards & Fellowships:

2008–2009: Visiting Fellow – Asian Cultural Council (ACC), New York City, USA

2008: Artist-in-Residence – Headlands Center for the Arts, San Francisco, USA

2006: Winner – Ateneo Art Awards (Ateneo de Manila University)

2003: Thirteen Artists Award – Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)

2003: Grant Recipient – Sungdu-an 3: Making the Local, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

1993: Best Regional Entry – 7th CCP Alternative Film and Video Awards (for his experimental video Tapaoho)

Selected Solo Exhibitions & Multidisciplinary Expositions:

The Great American Experience (2009) – Lunduyan Gallery, Quezon City / Williamsburg, New York

Everything Must Go (2009) – Edgezones, Wynwood Art District, Miami, Florida, USA

Banquet (2006) – Small Gallery, Cultural Center of the Philippines / The Substation, Singapore

Santong Pinagpasasaan (2005) – Collaborative installation with poet Abet Umil, Kulay Diwa Art Galleries, Parañaque City

International Art Festivals & Global Footprint:
Cruz has represented the vanguard of Philippine performance art across dozens of premier global platforms, including:

China: 10th Open Art Festival (Beijing, 2009) and The Sudden Change (Sichuan, 2008).

Americas: LIVE Art Biennale (Vancouver, Canada, 2007) and 7a*11d International Art Festival (Toronto, Canada, 2004).

Europe: InterAzioni XX Festival (Sardinia, Italy, 2007) and Laokoon International Festival (Hamburg, Germany, 2004).

Asia-Pacific: Future of Imagination 3 (Singapore, 2006), Asiatopia (Thailand, 2003–2004), and the Nippon International Performance Art Festival (Japan, 2002).

Curatorial & Project Initiatives:
A passionate organizer, Cruz has built several alternative spaces and networks to empower marginalized voices and international creative collaborations:

New World Disorder: Founder and director of an international artists' network and digital mail-art archive (established 2002).

perspeKtiba (Tutok Karapatan): Lead curator for a pivotal series of human rights-centered exhibitions, live actions, and political forums (2006–2007).

Encounter Terror & 911 1/2 World Simultaneous Action: Curated simultaneous international compilation performances addressing global warfare and state surveillance (2004–2005).

Key Institutional Affiliations:

The Artists Village (Singapore) – Foreign Associate

Neo-Angono Artists Collective (Philippines) – Associate

Southeast Asia Performance Art Conference – Adviser

Krit Kat Kritikal Katoliko – Convenor