Retinal Byrne

Although he led Talking Heads for 15 years, vocalist David Byrne never confined his artistic interests to the band’s postpunk milieu. Well before the official breakup of the highly influential group in 1991, Byrne404 Not Found

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nginx/1.14.0 (Ubuntu) dabbled in writing scores for theater, film and ballet, and directed a documentary about Brazil’s candomblé religion. Since then, his work has embraced public art, sound installations, sculpture, drawing and — somewhat implausibly for the man who co-wrote the underground anthem Psycho Killer — embroidery. It therefore comes as no surprise to learn that Byrne is also an accomplished photographer. The subject and location of his next photo exhibition is the capital of the Philippines, Manila — a place that is hardly ever on the radar of the artistic élite. “Photographs for Manila Envelope” — named after the local arts-and-culture magazine to which Byrne offered his photos gratis — will be held from Dec. 4-8 at the city’s Cemento Gallery, tel: (63-2) 810 9858.

“Byrne was very incognito when he was here,” says Manila Envelope editor David Guerrero. “He avoided the five-star hotels, and went everywhere on a bicycle.” That endearing lack of pretension — plus one man’s never-ending curiosity about life, culture and expression — is everywhere evident in the work on display. For more information, visit manilaenvelopeonline.com