The Universal Exposition of 1889 in Paris was a monumental event that not only showcased industrial and cultural advancements of the 19th century but also became a stage for intellectual and political engagement by figures from colonized nations. One such figure was José Rizal, the Philippine nationalist and reformist. His involvement in and reaction to the exposition reflect both the promise and contradictions of modernity under colonial rule. The exposition was emblematic of progress and innovation, yet it was also a space where colonial subjects were objectified and their cultures presented as inferior curiosities. Rizal’s response to this duality adds important depth to understanding the broader implications of colonial exhibitions on national consciousness and reform movements in the Philippines.
The 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris
Held to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, the 1889 Universal Exposition aimed to display the achievements of human ingenuity and celebrate liberty and progress. One of its most famous features was the unveiling of the Eiffel Tower, which stood as a symbol of modern engineering. Delegations from various nations and colonies participated, presenting their cultures, technologies, and resources. Among them were exhibits from colonies under European control, including those from Southeast Asia.
Colonial Showcases and Ethnographic Displays
A striking aspect of the exposition was the human zoos or ethnographic villages, where indigenous peoples from colonized territories were placed on display in constructed environments that mimicked their native habitats. These exhibits aimed to demonstrate the reach and diversity of the colonial empires but did so in ways that reinforced stereotypes of the so-called primitive or uncivilized native. Visitors viewed the colonial subjects not as equals, but as spectacles.
This ethnographic dimension of the exposition had a deep impact on observers who were themselves subjects of colonial powers. The treatment of colonized peoples highlighted the vast inequalities that modernity, for all its rhetoric of liberty and progress, failed to address. It exposed the paternalistic and exploitative ideologies embedded in the colonial system.
José Rizal’s Visit to the Exposition
José Rizal was in Europe during the time of the 1889 exposition. As an intellectual and reformer, he took a keen interest in international developments, including cultural and scientific exhibitions. While there is no confirmed record that Rizal attended the exposition in person, he was certainly aware of it and responded intellectually to its messages and implications. He was especially critical of how colonial subjects were represented and marginalized in such settings.
Response to Colonialism and Modernity
Rizal’s writings reflect a deep understanding of the contradictions at play in colonial participation in European modernity. While the exposition celebrated progress and civilization, it simultaneously showcased colonized people as backward and dependent. For Rizal, such representations were part of a broader strategy to legitimize European dominance. He believed that the Filipino people, and other colonized nations, had the intellectual and moral capacity to govern themselves and participate in modern society on equal terms.
This belief is reflected in Rizal’s novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, where he criticized Spanish rule in the Philippines and advocated for reform, education, and national identity. These themes resonated with the dynamics of the exposition, where the constructed inferiority of colonized peoples served to justify imperial control rather than invite real equality.
The Propaganda Movement and Global Platforms
Rizal was a key figure in the Propaganda Movement, a group of Filipino expatriates in Europe who worked to promote political reforms in the Philippines. The Universal Exposition, with its vast global audience, would have presented both an opportunity and a challenge for this movement. On one hand, it offered a chance to observe the world stage and understand how empires justified their rule. On the other hand, it highlighted the limitations of participation for those deemed outsiders.
The exposition, then, can be seen as both a mirror and a mask. It mirrored the technological and cultural achievements of the time but masked the underlying systems of exploitation that made such achievements possible. Rizal and his contemporaries sought to expose these contradictions through education, literature, and activism.
European Intellectual Currents and Filipino Reformists
During his time in Europe, Rizal was influenced by liberal and Enlightenment thinkers who emphasized reason, freedom, and the rights of man. The 1889 exposition, celebrating the centennial of the French Revolution, was steeped in these ideals. However, the ongoing existence of empires contradicted the supposed universality of those rights. For Rizal, this contradiction was not just theoretical it was a lived reality under Spanish rule in the Philippines.
Rizal’s response to the exposition, then, was not one of outright rejection, but of critical engagement. He appreciated the scientific and cultural advances on display but questioned the moral and political structures behind them. His stance exemplified a broader tension in colonial intellectuals: the desire to participate in modernity while resisting its colonial framework.
Legacy of the 1889 Exposition in Philippine History
The Universal Exposition of 1889 had lasting implications for the Philippines and its path toward nationhood. Although the exposition was not directly focused on the Philippines, it influenced how Filipino intellectuals positioned themselves in relation to the colonial state and the broader world. It offered a clear example of how colonialism shaped global narratives and how those narratives could be challenged through writing, activism, and transnational solidarity.
Rizal’s Enduring Influence
Rizal’s engagement with global events like the exposition cemented his role as a visionary leader who looked beyond the boundaries of the archipelago. He understood that the struggle for Filipino identity and freedom was part of a larger global pattern of colonial domination. His efforts to critique and challenge colonial discourse contributed to the awakening of national consciousness in the Philippines.
Even after his execution in 1896, Rizal’s ideas continued to inspire future generations of revolutionaries and reformers. His insights into the politics of representation, especially in events like the 1889 exposition, remain relevant in understanding how power operates on both local and international levels.
Rizal, the Exposition, and the Colonial Gaze
The Universal Exposition of 1889 in Paris serves as a complex symbol of both progress and oppression. For colonized peoples like the Filipinos, it was a stark reminder of their marginalization in the global order. Yet for thinkers like José Rizal, it was also a catalyst a moment to critique, to reflect, and to articulate an alternative vision of modernity that included justice, equality, and national dignity. His reaction to the exposition underscores the importance of representation, the power of ideas, and the enduring struggle against colonialism in all its forms.