The “Fashion Interiors” (2307 Chino Roces Extension, Makati 1232-Former Pasong Tamo, Magallanes ) exclusive furniture store had the honor to host the soft opening of “L’Art de Trois Femmes,” an exhibition of European artists featuring Swedish Jeanette Kamphuis, Polish Natalia Biegalska and Denise Hedera. The soft opening was broadcasted by the music group “Anything goes 101”.
Kamphuis exhibited her larger Suprematism Contemporary collection where she gives honor to the infinity in the Universe and the living basic elements on Earth. As you go for a visit you will also have the opportunity to view a few of her skyline series where she encourages the audience to take care of Mother Earth. For this series, she received an award 1 Dec 2019 in Manila Hotel from the “Noble Queen of the Universe” organization as “Ambassador Queen of the Environment.”
Kamphuis is a multi-talented artist. At the tender age of eight, she won an art competition and she never stopped painting since then. Many of you might know her as a musician or talent in many telenovela series but art has become second nature to her. One of her sayings is “Art is OXYGEN” and we all surely need that especially these days.
Kamphuis skyline series.
She is an artist, a musician, an actress. She is a citizen of the world with deep ecological sensibilities whose many iterations stem from her varied life experiences of traveling to more than 96 countries over seven continents. Ultimately, she is a constant evolution of talent, ideas, and beliefs. You can find her murals and art in Sweden, Germany, Austria, the USA, the Philippines, South Africa, and Mozambique.
Kamphuis has made a great impact on the Philippine art scene with three solo exhibits and 34 group exhibits with local artists. For more information, visit her website http://artisticeuro.com/.
“L’Art de Trois Femmes” group exhibition has been extended to January 8, 2022.
On the 50th birthday of artist and patron-of-the-arts Lerma Julian, she and five other female artists from varied professional and geographical backgrounds come together in King Arts and Restaurant in Tagaytay to express their visions of joie de vivre in an exhibit titled Lerma’s 5D.
Julian has contributed much to the Sta. Rosa, Laguna art scene by founding a community, Life n’ Arts, which provides quality art education and materials to local creatives.
Lerma Julian
Joining her in the current exhibit are artists hailing largely from the art scene south of Manila.
Vicente Manansala’s granddaughter Khristina has dedicated the last 13 years to full-time art practice. Known for her evocative depiction of human facial expressions vis-à-vis archetypal images of Eastern philosophy, Manansala was initially dissuaded from pursuing art as a professional path but has since persisted and made a name for herself.
A compatriot of Julian, Ana Isip is a professional makeup artist who has continued collecting dolls since childhood. Now a mother who shares her collection with her daughters, the “child-like expression on a doll finds new significance” as Isip has turned her creative hand to a new medium: acrylic on canvas. From being a collector, her works now sit in local and international collections.
An OB-gyne by day, Aida N. Huertas-Dinulos watches and helps a different kind of life bloom and unfold in her watercolor paintings of flora. While a doctor’s practice involves precision, she allows nature’s patience and spontaneity to speak through her brush and canvas as she works from Silang, Cavite.
Jeanette Bilan-Capili, a judge who grew up in Bacoor, Cavite, revives her childhood love for painting, moving from appreciator to art-maker as she moved from her childhood city to Sta. Rosa upon her appointment into the judiciary. It was here that she found time to try her hand at art and thus enrolled in Life n’ Arts, finding her voice in oil, acrylic, and watercolor.
Crese Cambronero has worn many hats, from food entrepreneur to real estate broker and wealth strategist, and from art collector to art practitioner. Moving from the form of the world towards its essence, her paintings attempt to communicate the psyche’s awakening to sublime realities. She is also the owner of King Arts and Restaurant.
Crese Cambronero with her artworks.
The exhibit opened last November 7 and ran until December 7 at King Arts and Restaurant.
Kingdom
Continuing this thread is the upcoming two-man exhibit on December 12 by James Hermogenes and Carlo Lamano. Both artists espouse landscape expressionism, occasionally veering towards abstraction, with their use of metallic hues which add distinct character to a well-trod art movement.
The two deploy paint splatters, bold brush strokes, and rich impasto applied across the foreground to mimic the textures and elements of the earth, all under gradients that evoke the moods of the sky. Evocative of John Dunne’s poetry which sang of how the English landscape drew out strong emotions, the duo intends to impress the same effect upon viewers of their art.
Fitting, given King Art and Restaurant’s proximity to the vistas along the Tagaytay ridge overlooking Taal lake.
Aside from being known by regulars for pulling-off Italian, Thai, Indian, Dutch, Greek, and Filipino dishes, the joint also serves as an artist hub promoting both local and visiting up-and-coming and veteran artists, making for a multi-sensory experience all under Tagaytay’s mild climate.
Regulars at King often come to associate the place with their warm interiors buoyed by their wood furniture, most notably their Narra hardwood long tables and conference tables, which can also be purchased to bring home that experience of royalty.
King Arts and Restaurant’s warm interiors are buoyed by their wood furniture.
Creativity is not confined to the art and objets d’art adorning the location but also in King’s menu, as the offerings adapt to the seasonality of organic ingredients as well as the requests of customers, switching up the familiar without deviating from the comfortable.
King Arts and Restaurant is located at 534 Purok 5 Pasong Langka, Silang Cavite. For more information, visit http://kingartsresto.com. Feel free to contact +6391789000021.
Get to know these two talented artists – Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo and Pete Velasquez – who are showcasing their artistry locally and internationally. Ocampo has recently been amazed and received a standing ovation from the judges in America’s Got Talent as he continued his mission to provide awe-inspiring performances to his audience.
Gateway Gallery exhibited the works of Pete Velasquez a renowned architect turned visual artist, titled Phid-DRAW. Velasquez’ 11th solo exhibit displayed the Filipino maiden bearing classic names from a bygone era: Mariposa, Paraluman, and Marilag.
Ehrlich ‘Firechill’ Ocampo’s unique circus act
Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo is set to become one of our country’s national treasures as he continues to inspire and innovate with his unique Levi wand circus act.
The former Cirque de Soleil performer combines the softness of dance with the marvel of magic in Levi wand performances, where a wand seemingly floats in midair as Firechill dances around and moves. It is a stunning exhibition of grace and modernity – one that appeals to all audiences regardless of nationality.
The judges at America’s Got Talent confirmed this, calling Firechill’s act “flawless” and “unique”. Howie Mandel was even heard saying, “That is an art form that I don’t think we’ve seen. I’ve been here for a long time. That was beautiful. I loved it.”
Despite the recent recognition, however, Firechill has been honing his art for years. His journey is an awe-inspiring and heart-warming example of how passion and to determine can manifest in success. Against the wishes of his family who encouraged a more standard career route, Firechill knew that he wanted more from his life: to reveal a magical world one dance step at a time.
Even after all his hard work to become a skilled performer, his journey was still filled with several challenges. When he received a job opportunity for the Cirque de Soleil, he needed three weeks of seafarer training, several dozens of documents and certificates, and was even denied a visa once. Still, he persevered and did whatever he needed to pursue his dream of being a circus performer.
He trained with the best circus performers all around the world and developed his unique act where he dances around a levitating wand. As he told the judges in America’s Got Talent, “I am here fighting for myself, my family, my friends, my community, my country.”
The proudly Filipino artist says that kababayans should have more opportunities to develop their skills, as many of our countrymen have the talent, but not the opportunities or resources to expand them. He calls all local creatives to stay true to their truths, and find a way to showcase their passion.
Firechill is also the author of “The Boy Who Dreamt Of Flying”, a heart-touching fable of a boy who weaved a dreamcatcher to catch his dreams of flying. Inspired by his own life, the book is filled with wonderful imagery, imaginative characters, and timeless truths. Through this story, Firechill hopes to foster a community of inclusion, where everyone accepts each other, misfits, freaks, and weirdos alike.
Further expressing himself in various mediums, Firechill is also a renowned visual artist. His original works evoke an almost perceptible sadness mixed with hope, as his subjects are often depicted reaching out for their dreams despite adversity.
For more information about Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo, contact A-List & Partners Consulting Group Inc. at communications@a-listconsulting.com.
Pete Velasquez’s 11th solo exhibit
Pete Velasquez, architect turned visual artist, is one of the more prolific artists in the country today, even during the pandemic. Known for his idyllic scenes of the country and her maidens, in drawing and painting, Velasquez never tires of capturing his experiences through paintings or drawings.
In his 11th solo exhibit, Pidh-DRAW, Velasquez displays modernist techniques in producing classic images on canvas or paper using line drawings and tonal renditions of objects or forms. In the imaginative world of artist Pete Velasquez, figurative expressions are celebrated and were produced through pure imagination and keen observations.
Pete Velasquez Last Supper acrylic on canvas
In this exhibit, Velasquez portrays the Filipino maiden bearing classic names from a bygone era; which may sound too old-fashioned for the young generation of today. The maidens of Velasquez bear exquisite names such as Mariposa, Paraluman, and Marilag; names that epitomize old-world values such as industry, faithfulness, and purity. His maidens remind us of our great-grandparents, who led lives of sacrifice, dignity, and respect for farming and the good Earth. He identifies himself as an artist and a farmer, and his name Pete, in Filipino is Pedro (Pihd-Draw), connecting him to the traditional women featured in the exhibit.
Velasquez takes inspiration from the outdoors and loves doing plein air (outdoor) painting by the river bank, or anywhere that his folding Brompton bike may take him. Other days, he would use his Vespa, an Italian scooter that makes his outdoor painting sessions an inspired, elevated experience. His love for Vespa manifested in his art, as seen in the Vespa series, situating the Italian classic in a Philippine backdrop of traditional terrains, culture, and lifestyle.
For inquiries, pls contact gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com, or contact them on their Facebook (GatewayGalleryPh), Twitter (gateway_gallery), and Instagram (gateway. gallery) accounts.
Celebrating its 52nd founding anniversary this year, the Cultural Center of the Philippines looks back on the year that was, reflects on our current dispensation, and anticipates what the future brings for the artistic sector and the country in general, through a light, projection, and sound show, in Sinag 2021, slated on November 21, 2021.
The CCP’s iconic building facade will serve as a canvas for a projection mapping conceptualized and executed by renowned projection designer, GA Fallarme.
Featuring CCP’s archival footages and some visual elements to add texture, volume, and movement to an otherwise static element, the projection show revolves around the theme “KAHAPON, NGAYON, at BUKAS” as a reflection on the storied past, on-going struggles, and fervent hopes for a better normal.
KAHAPON, the first segment, pays tribute to the Filipino audiences who have been an important part of the CCP’s journey through the decades. Accompanied by singer/composer Ebe Dancel’s “Manatili,” this segment will showcase images of audience members and timelapse footage of people filling in the various CCP theaters and spaces.
The second segment, NGAYON, contemplates the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected the country, particularly, the artistic communities, through a short animation. It features the story and illustrations by Joel “Făbô” Fabonan, animated by Fallarme, with National Artist Lucrecia Kasilag’s Divertissement as a music bed.
The animation video delves into the people’s sentiments during this pandemic, and how arts became their haven in this trying time. It highlights how the CCP continues to execute its mandate to bring arts and culture closer to the Filipino people in the safety of their homes. As the Center prepares to reopen its doors, the animation video reiterates that the CCP remains the home of Filipino artists.
Set in electro-pop music by Joee Mejias, fun and whimsical video where a CCP trickster invades the virtual world will be shown for the final segment – BUKAS.
The light show, designed by the CCP artistic and technical team led by Danilo Villanueva and Louie Alcoran, intensifies the artistic ambiance with a creative interlude of lights and sounds in the fountain and other areas. Inspired by an original design of Teddy Hilado, “A Little Light Music,” set to Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” the presentation will showcase the facets of the building in a new light.
Held last month from October 20 to 24, ManilART’21 continued to adapt to the exigencies of the changing times. Patrons and art lovers were able to visit the fair both onsite and online, as well as peek into several satellite sites around the country including those in Davao, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, and Rizal. Its theme this year, “Continuing Legacies,” is in line with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)’s 2021 theme of “Showcasing the Nation, Shaping the Filipino ImagiNation.” The role of museums and galleries in both creative industry and cultural patrimony is part of an ongoing narrative necessitating constant dialogue and evolution.
Twenty-six galleries showcased the works of their artists, with standout shows that were well-received and many sold out. Onsite, fairgoers were able to safely and responsibly immerse themselves in art in its full dimensionality, as well as interact with artists, curators, and other enthusiasts. Timed entrances, contactless registration, and social distancing protocols were strictly observed with the help of partner Ticketbooth and as monitored by Safecity Taguig.
Legacies close to our hearts
In a year steeped in grief and loss, the fair offered reprieve through fairgoers immersing themselves in the arts even for just the moment. Within the fair, artists and gallerists have lost some of their dearest friends.
Memorials were held for Maestros Rene Robles and Carlito Ortega. During the customary artists’ night, reminiscing and merry-making abounded while celebrating the life and contribution of these trailblazers.
Rene Robles is known for pioneering the art of Assertionism in the Philippines, with his daring angles on commonplace subject matters that lend traditional media an abstracted quality.
Carlito Ortega is known for his metal sculptures in the figurative-expressionistic style. His works, often informed by folk art and the human form are stationery yet assume a dynamic soulfulness.
The late Carlito Ortega next to his work at ManilART 2018.
Going phygital
True to the tone of building legacies in ever-changing times, a new addition to ManilART 2021 is the “phygital experience.”
Alongside painting and sculpture originals, one could find Augmented-Reality multiples or copies, interactive digital galleries, and minted crypto art of the featured artworks. These phygital multiples are Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) that were given transactional codes indelibly tied to the blockchain.
Examples of these phygital debuts include Ed Coronel’s Freedom gummy bears that would periodically blink as if imbued with life; Bell Sison’s Megabuster dog sculpture that could be digitally placed in any room; Ramon Orlina’s Delighted in Mother’s Arms in all the maestro’s iconic splendor, preserved through the digital.
NQC’s victories
On the opening day of ManilART 2021, the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) unveiled its twelve winners for its open-style representational painting competition. NQC, in cooperation with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), NCCA, and the National Museum of the Philippines, held this art competition in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan.
Titled “Victory and Humanity: The Quincentennial Art Competition Exhibit,” the competition’s twelve winners are Matthius Garcia, Joseph Luigi Almuena, Jesus Rona, Teody Boylie Perez, Darby Vincent Alcoseba, Romane Elmira Contawi, Herbert Pinpiño, Bernardo Maac, Wilfredo Cañete Jr., Ariel Caratao, and Katelyn Ann Miñoso.
This is in observance of 2021 being declared as the Year of Filipino Pre-Colonial Ancestors by virtue of Proclamation No. 1128, s. 2021. The Victory at Mactan also values scientific and humanistic achievements through this commemoration of the planet’s first circumnavigation.
A related exhibition is Nemesio Miranda, Jr.’s 500 Years of Patriotism which occupied a whole pavilion mounted with mural-sized works extolling heroes from Lapulapu to present day political and economic martyrs. Also on display were Willy Layug’s exquisite relief sculptures of the First Mass and the first Filipino hero Lapulapu.
Wrapping up its second year over the pandemic and thirteenth year from its inception, ManilART 2021 has persisted in legacy-building by continuing the cultural conversation, protecting the gains of the creative industry, securing the foothold of artists and other players in the support infrastructure for the visual arts, while catering to its audience’s need to be provided with nourishment for the spirit balanced with safeguarding public health and physical welfare.
ManilART2021 was co-presented with the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO), ManilART Foundation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as a Museums and Galleries Month presentation. It was brought to you by partners I Love Taguig, Think Big Taguig, Vision Prime Media, Future Studios, Ladder Events Production, Ticketbooth.ph, SM Aura, SMX Convention Center, Department of Foreign Affairs, BDO Unibank, Metro Channel, Metro.Style, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), ANC Cityscape, SMNI News Channel, DZAR Sonshine Radio 1026, People’s Journal, BusinessWorld, Alike Media Inc., FrontpagePH, asian Dragon, Click The City, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Art+ Magazine, Inquirer.net, Inquirer POP! Home Base Plus, The Market Monitor, Hue TVEverywhere, Chinese Journal Today, Experience Travel and Living Magazine, Manileño, WhenInManila.com, Good Morning Kuya (GMK), The Manila Times, Wish 107.5, Boracay Beach Radio 97.3, Q Radio 105.1, Don Papa Rum, Guardian Alcohol, and Katinko.
On its thirteenth year, ManilART focuses on “Continuing Legacies.” These legacies cannot be taken out of their context being on the second year over the pandemic; continuing legacies necessitate evolution with the times, including setting new standards to ensure a safer and better normal.
In anticipation of a more open and robust economy going into the last quarter of the year, ManilART has moved its original dates and is now slated for October 20-24 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.
Ensuring the well-being of fairgoers
Safety is ManilART’s top priority- the fair implements guidelines for the welfare of exhibitors and fairgoers in cooperation with Ticketbooth and Safecity. Safe Hours will be implemented for select onsite activities, with available slots requiring the presentation of a vaccination card.
General Admission tickets shall be honored from October 21-24, while VIP Preview tickets are honored on October 20, Day 1. This is all in strict observance of online pre-registration, contactless entry, and capacity-monitoring protocols. The fair is monitored and compliant with safety protocols approved by Safecity Taguig.
These measures, which had been successfully implemented last year, are here to stay. Moving forward, simultaneous onsite and online availability will be the norm as longer-term practices in terms of the art fair, art markets, and the relevant procedures for art and cultural exhibitions in general.
How to visit ManilART onsite
Physical visitors may obtain their tickets online through Ticketbooth. After a successful purchase, just save and/or download your ticket with a QR code. Enjoy contactless and wait-free entrance when you scan at the gate. Contactless temperature scans and SM Mall entry monitoring will be in effect as added precautions.
A limited number of Safe Hours slots will be available on the first schedule of each General Admission Fair Day. These slots require the presentation of a vaccination card in addition to the regular ticket QR. This ensures visitors are in the house only with other vaccinated persons during the designated hours.
Everyone in ManilART will need to comply with the following guidelines for everyone’s safety:
Wear your face mask and face shield at all times
Allow for contactless temperature scanning at the entrance
Make use of the foot baths and alcohol stations
Maintain social distancing of 1.5 meters per person
Move along the indicated one-way paths
Observe and follow the onsite marshals who are tasked to assist with foot
Sponsor Family Mart will be safely offering small snacks and beverages during VIP and Safe Hours on a Grab and Go basis.
ManilART online: from Tarlac to Taguig to Davao
ManilART’s online events and exhibitions can also be found through the ManilART portal at www.manilartfair.com, where anyone may access the fair’s 360 walkthrough synchronously with the fair opening on October 20. Individual views of the fair’s exhibitors will be made available- you can view all the onsite exhibitions with a single click, as if you were actually at the fair grounds at SMX. This year’s exhibitors include Galerie Raphael, Galleria Nicolas, Annual Sculpture Review, G9 Online, Art For Space, Nemiranda Arthouse, Ysobel Art Gallery, Galerie Du Soleil, A.Tolentino Art Gallery, Historia Arts, Galerie Artes, Village Art Gallery, 371 Art Space, Renaissance Art Gallery, Galerie Francesca, Artes Orientes, NQC, Artologist Gallery, Espacio Manila by CMG, Robles Museum, and Art Lounge Manila.
A look at the ManilART website guided tour.
Apart from onsite galleries, full views of the satellite shows will also be made accessible.
ManilART’s much-anticipated regional sites include Balai Kalipay in Davao, Likhang Silangan in Rizal, Tarlac Art in Tarlac and Ricardo’s in Cavite. This is a new development from the fair’s tireless efforts at showcasing regional artists in their own home; despite travel restrictions, these sites can now be visited from the comfort of yours.
These 360 visits allow you a self-guided, self-paced tour of the various exhibits similar to Google’s street view. You may even use virtual reality glasses or any phone or device with an accelerometer to best simulate a walk-through.
Inside the Diwa ng Tarlac where the Tarlac Art Fair is being held. The 360 Satellite Tour will be available on ManilART’s website.
Beyond Physical
ManilART2021 debuts its first phygital showcase which will give a glimpse of the possibilities of future art, bridging physical works with their digital multiples. These phygitals minted as Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) will join the world marketplace for art, as well as allow virtual exhibitions of entire collections anywhere in the globe in the near future. Experience art as Augmented Reality (AR) at this year’s fair.
ManilART2021 is co-presented with the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO), ManilART Foundation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as a Museums and Galleries Month presentation. It is supported by partners I Love Taguig, Think Big Taguig, Vision Prime Media, Future Studios, Ladder Events Production, Ticketbooth.ph, SM Aura, SMX Convention Center, Department of Foreign Affairs, BDO Unibank, Metro Channel, Metro.Style, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), SMNI News Channel, DZAR Sonshine Radio 1026, People’s Journal, BusinessWorld, FrontpagePH, asian Dragon, Click The City, The Philippine Star, Art+ Magazine, Inquirer.net, Inquirer POP! Manila Bulletin, Home Base Plus, The Market Monitor, Hue TVEverywhere, Chinese Journal Today, Experience Travel and Living Magazine, Manileño, WhenInManila.com, Good Morning Kuya (GMK), The Manila Times, Alike Media Inc., Wish 107.5, Boracay Beach Radio 97.3, Q Radio 105.1, Don Papa Rum, and Guardian Alcohol.
ManilART’s onsite fair will run from October 20-24 at the third level of the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City. For more details, visit www.manilart.comor follow ManilART’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram (@manilartfair).
ManilART is the flagship activity of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)’s Museums and Galleries Month (MGM), celebrated every October. In its thirteenth year, ManilART observes the theme “Continuing Legacies,” resuming its regular programming from October 20-24 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.
Continuing traditions
ManilART was established on the backbone of professional galleries representing world-class Filipino artists on the world stage. Living masters of Philippine art continue to headline the top-caliber roster of the fair. These artists have won both local and international accolades, participated in prestigious programs, exhibited around the globe, and built the monuments we see around us today. They are representative of the degree of excellence of the times and give collectors and enthusiasts the unparalleled opportunity to view and meet in person the works and the masters themselves.
“Symphony in Blue” by Aracelli Dans will be exhibited this year at ManilART 2021.
Araceli Dans. At 94, multi-awarded Dans, whose previous exhibition was at ManilART 2018, returns this year. Mentored by National Artists Fernando Amorsolo and Guillermo Tolentino, she has built a lifelong legacy of works representing the consummate Filipina artist and educator. Best known for her calado embroidery subject, she continues to paint fine and large-scale works coveted by top collectors over the decades.
Ramon Orlina’s “Family United” was seen in ManilART 2020.
Ramon Orlina. Orlina is unparalleled in the field of glass sculpture. Over five decades, he has continued to innovate techniques and push the envelope towards refining the play of light and glass in his pieces as best reviewed at the eponymous Museo Orlina in Tagaytay. This year, his works are brought to a new experiential level as will be unveiled in the first-ever phygital exhibition in the Philippines.
Romulo Galicano. A mainstay of ManilART since its inception, Galicano continues to chronicle contemporary history in his romantic realist style. Recipient of many local and international accolades, most recently a three-peat at the American Art Awards, he brings his award-winning style to render current events in grand, semi-mural scaled works.
Nemiranda. Nemesio Miranda, Jr. is another chronicler of history through many works of private and public art. From his EDSA Shrine murals, People Power monument to the “Way of Mary” stations stretching from Mandaluyong to Antipolo, Nemiranda contributes his narrative to the Quincentennial celebrations in highlighting the 500 years from the Victory of Mactan to present-day heroes in pandemic times.
Balai Kalipay houses large murals by Kublai Millan as well as a collection of works by other artists.
Kublai Millan. Representing indigenous and contemporary art of Mindanawons, monument maker Millan brings a Mindanao perspective to the table. Best-known for public sculptures including the “Durian Genesis Lore” at the Davao Airport, he spearheads Mindanao Art Fair as well as a ManilART satellite exhibit of Balai Kalipay, co-presented with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Sowing for the Future
Legacies are built over time. The younger set today lay the groundwork for their place in our artistic patrimony in the years to come with their consistent excellence and dedication to their craft. Sought-after new generation talents today put their best foot forward in this annual event. These include Francis Nacion, Jonathan Dangue, Melissa Yeung Yap, Wencyl Mallari, Kenneth Montegrande, and Katrina Cuenca, among scores of others.
Extending reach off-site
In past years, like the National Art Fair, aside from physically bringing exhibits to the main fair proper, ManilART has brought art caravans throughout the three island groups. As world events unfolded, this caravan has been innovated to take the form of online virtual exhibitions. While physically set up in situ, 360-degree walkthroughs on ManilART’s portal brings audiences virtually to visit the shows simultaneously happening “Off-site” during the fair. This brings art straight to the homes and screens of audiences while remaining bound in its context and place. Synchronously with the “On-site” fair, the portal brings together a shared experience in the celebration of art and a one-stop-shop for the online visitor to virtually experience art “under one roof.” This year, six satellite shows are offered located in different cities in Luzon and Mindanao.
Entrance of Balai Kalipay in Davao.
Balai Kalipay. Balai Kalipay is located in the mountainous Malagos area of Davao City. It was built and spearheaded by renowned Mindanawon sculptor Kublai Millan, whose works and advocacies have been prominently featured in ManilART. Its name translates to “House of Joy,” and its vision is to chronicle both indigenous and contemporary Mindanao art. This is jointly undertaken by ManilART and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Cultural Diplomacy Unit.
Likhang Silangan. Rizal has also garnered a name for itself in the art scene as the Cradle of Philippine Art, with its municipality of Angono named the Arts Capital of the Philippines. As such, “Likhang Silangan: The Art EASTory of Rizal,” shall be held from October 10 to 23 at Angkla Art Gallery in Angono. There is already a decorated list of local visual art legends such as the late National Artists Carlos “Botong” Francisco, and Vicente Manansala, as well as 19th-century artist Juan “Tandang Juancho” Senson.
Tarlac Art. The Heart of Luzon shall forge its own legacy in the realm of arts and culture. “Tarlac Art ” will run from October 1 to 22 at Diwa ng Tarlac. This is to be the first visual arts exhibit exclusively showcasing artists from Tarlac. This is a collaborative effort between ManilART and Tarlac’s Provincial Government.
Casa Carlitos. Philippine sculpture lost one of its most unique and pre-eminent living greats with the sudden passing of Carlitos Ortega. The museum cafe preserves some of his works in brass sculpture and design and will be inaugurated as a satellite exhibit and tribute.
Beyond physical borders – Introducing the Phygital
With the advent of the digital stage, ManilART opened its online portal last year to bring audiences to a better experience of the Fair via 360-degree virtual walkthroughs. But a virtual peek is only the beginning of the journey, soon art will be ushered to a truly digital age with the introduction of virtual galleries and collections where art in digital format will exist alongside physical art. The time will come when entire virtual museums can be uploaded to the cloud and transported globally and beyond.
ManilART2021 debuts its first “phygital” exhibitor. G9 ONline will mount a phygital show which will showcase a digital work as an NFT, alongside the physical original as painting or sculpture. The Non-fungible Token (NFT) is a digitally encrypted rendition of an original work that can be considered a “digital print or multiple” based on a physical artwork. The NFT is viewable and displayable in a virtual gallery and can be traded on the crypto market similar to crypto art. Its non-fungible character means that the digital rendition is original and does not simply capture or grab an image online. It has a traceable provenance and may be considered an enhancement on the physical piece.
For the initial collection, limited edition proofs will be released of the works of Ramon Orlina, Ed Coronel, Bell Sison, Isobel Francisco, among others.
“Diversity” by Ed Coronel will have an accompanying Non-fungible Token (NFT).
Philippine Quincentennial
ManilART joins in the quincentennial commemorations through activities and exhibits co-presented at the NQC-ManilART Lounge with the National Quincentennial Committee and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
ManilART2021 is co-presented with the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO), ManilART Foundation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as a Museums and Galleries Month presentation. It is supported by partners I Love Taguig, Think Big Taguig, Vision Prime Media, Future Studios, Ladder Events Production, Ticketbooth.ph, Metro Channel, Metro.Style, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), SMNI News Channel, DZAR Sonshine Radio 1026, People’s Journal, BusinessWorld, Alike Media Inc., FrontpagePH, asian Dragon, Click The City, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Art+ Magazine, Inquirer.net, Inquirer POP! Home Base Plus, The Market Monitor, Hue TVEverywhere, Chinese Journal Today, Experience Travel and Living Magazine, Manileño, WhenInManila.com, Good Morning Kuya (GMK), The Manila Times, Wish 107.5, Boracay Beach Radio 97.3, Q Radio 105.1, and Don Papa Rum.
ManilART will run from October 13-17 at the third level of the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City. For more details, visitwww.manilart.com or follow ManilART’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram (@manilartfair).
Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the quest for learning, pursuing one’s passion for arts and culture continue.
Here’s a roundup of some of the interesting happenings around town: Virtual European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) on 1-2 October 2021, with registration starting on 10 September at https://www.ehefphilippines.com., One-man exhibition dubbed “Efflorescence” by Michael Pastorizo is ongoing until September 21, 2021, at Galerie Joaquin Podium; and the momentous historical ocular inspection at Cuartel De Santo Domingo in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
EHEF 2021
The European Higher Education Fair 2021 puts Filipino students, academicians, researchers, and university officials on track towards going higher and achieving their educational aspirations in European higher education institutions.
The EHEF 2021 promotes the diversity and excellence of higher education in the EU. Useful, practical, and comprehensive information about the different mobility initiatives and distinctive higher education programs will be available at your fingertips.
The EHEF welcomes Poland, which is participating in the Fair for the first time. Other participating universities come from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Sweden.
With this year’s theme “Go Higher with EU”, the EHEF continues to be the best platform to link Filipino students with EU universities and higher education institutions.
European girl on a journey.
Aside from country presentations and live chats with representatives of higher education institutions, alumni, and scholars, this year’s all online fair will feature webinars on research programs, sponsorships, and mobility opportunities for students. Also lined up are the very popular country presentations and live chats with HEI representatives, alumni, and scholars.
Local officials and educators will have the opportunity to request virtual meetings with their EU counterparts to discuss potential linkages and cooperation. A virtual networking event will also take place on 1 October at 7:30 PM.
As EHEF 2021 embraces the digital platform, it has also established partnerships with regional hubs including Wesleyan University (Luzon), Silliman University (Visayas), and Xavier University –Ateneo de Cagayan (Mindanao), which will host clustered presentations for students and other members of the academe.
The Virtual EHEF 2021 is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, together with EU Member States’ Embassies, education services, and Institutes and in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education.
“Efflorescence” by Michael Pastorizo
Visual artist Michael Pastorizo’s abstract floral and botanical works for his ongoing one-man show dubbed “Efflorescence” seek to capture and communicate the dynamism and magic of nature through fluid, expressionistic and colorful interpretations of nature’s treasures.
For the artist, “color is therapy and flowers are a universal language of the soul.” Just like his artworks, he has achieved the fullness of his creativity.
Pastorizo’s recent works are on display at Galerie Joaquin Podium. Photo courtesy of Galerie Joaquin
“Efflorescence” by Michael Pastorizo will run until September 21, 2021, at Galerie Joaquin Podium.
Visual artist Michael Pastorizo. Photo courtesy of Galerie Joaquin
The Galerie is located at Level 3, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. For more information, contact 09267227925 or email podium.galeriejoaquin@gmail.com.
To know more about the artist, like and follow his Facebook account @https://www.facebook.com/michael.pastorizo.
Historical ocular inspection at Cuartel de Santo Domingo, Santa Rosa Laguna
A historical ocular inspection at Cuartel de Santo Domingo in Santa Rosa City Laguna happened recently spearheaded by Kilusan Cuartel De Santo Domingo Executive Director, Gemalin Batino Diaz, and was graced by the presence of Santa Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas.
The activity was graced by the presence of Santa Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas (center). Photo courtesy of Kilusan Cuartel De Santo Domingo.
It was also witnessed by the staff and new members of Kilusan Cuartel, Board of Directors El Do Cap Medina, Virgie Ramos, LGU’s Engineering, Pastor Nelson Domingo, and some guests from Lipa, Batangas.
The Cuartel was a Spanish garrison erected in1850. Through the efforts of the Kilusan, Cuartel has successfully designated as a “National Historic Landmark,” and an “Important Cultural Property of the Philippines.”
Photo courtesy of Kilusan Cuartel De Santo Domingo
The historical landmark is set to open this year amidst the pandemic.
On its second year over the pandemic and thirteenth year from its inception, ManilART has constantly innovated in its years as the country’s national art fair. In 2021, it returns to its roots with the theme “Continuing Legacies.” This year, ManilART shall take place from October 13-17 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City – resuming its regular schedule while keeping updated on the fast-changing current events.
Continuing such a legacy necessitates precisely this: reimagining one’s role in arts and culture, which has shifted to a new playing field through online media. Through holding both online and onsite events henceforth, both safety and accessibility are addressed. The website will continue to provide full virtual walkthroughs, as well as asynchronous online activities for art education.
As the flagship activity of Museums and Galleries Month, ManilART takes the lead in ensuring that public health and safety practices be strictly implemented at the onsite venue. Tickets will be available through TicketBooth.ph and safety measures will be implemented in adherence to SM Aura Premier’s safety standards as monitored by Safecity Taguig.
ManilART is extending its reach through various satellite sites beyond Metro Manila, as well. In its ten years as the national art fair, ManilART has spearheaded efforts not just to bring together different regions to the capital, but also to help these regions gain traction in the bigger art scene through ManilART Caravans, which have resulted in fully-realized regional art fairs such as Mindanao Art.
Among ManilART’s satellite sites are Likhang Silangan in Rizal, Tarlac Art in Tarlac and Balai Kalipay in Mindanao. The satellite exhibit, “Likhang Silangan: The Art EASTory of Rizal,” will run from October 10 to 23 at Angkla Art Gallery. With Rizal known as the Cradle of Philippine Art, there is much to look forward to with Angkla Art Gallery’s showcase of local visual artists: this includes Rizaleño legends such as Juan “Tandang Juancho” Senson, Carlos “Botong” Francisco, and Vicente Manansala.
Balai Kalipay in Mindanao.
Tarlac Art is at the beginning of forging its own legacy. “Tarlac Art” shall be held from October 1 to 22 at Diwa ng Tarlac, Tarlac City. This much-anticipated endeavor of the city’s Provincial Government will be the first visual arts exhibit exclusively featuring artists from Tarlac, the heart of Luzon.
Balai Kalipay is a museum gallery in the picturesque Malagos mountains co-founded by visual artist Kublai Millan. Its particular advocacy is to showcase the indigenous art of contemporary Mindanawon artists in situ. The showcase shall be done in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs Cultural Diplomacy Unit.
In solidarity with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, ManilART joins in the quincentennial commemorations by featuring activities and exhibits of the National Quincentennial Committee and hosting the NQC-ManilART Lounge. ManilART remains steadfast in its dedication to its purpose, while constantly expanding partnerships and innovating with the times. Art practitioners, advocates, and enthusiasts are invited to take part in the continuing dialogue now extended through the advances of the digital age.
ManilART2021 is co-presented with the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO), ManilART Foundation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as a Museums and Galleries Month presentation. It is supported by partners I Love Taguig, Think Big Taguig, Vision Prime Media, Future Studios, Ladder Events Production, Ticketbooth.ph, Metro Channel, Metro.Style, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), SMNI News Channel, DZAR Sonshine Radio 1026, People’s Journal, BusinessWorld, Alike Media Inc., FrontpagePH, asian Dragon, Click The City, The Philippine Star, Art+ Magazine, Inquirer.net, Inquirer POP! Home Base Plus, The Market Monitor, Hue TVEverywhere, Chinese Journal Today, Experience Travel and Living Magazine, Manileño, WhenInManila.com, Good Morning Kuya (GMK), The Manila Times, Wish 107.5, Boracay Beach Radio 97.3, Q Radio 105.1, and Don Papa Rum.
To keep up to date with ticketing details and the full schedule, follow ManilART’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @manilartfair and visit www.manilartfair.com.
