Wawi Navarroza for SIlverlens. Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com[img_101] Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com Lou Lim for SIlverlens. Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com[img_104] Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com Allison Wong David for YOD Gallery. Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com Gabriel Luchauco for Salcedo Private Auctions. Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com Louie Cordero for MO_Space. Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com Nicole Coson. Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.com Stanley Ruiz. Copyright 2017 Wanderlister.comSeen&Scene: Arty Manila Is It and LitPossibly my biggest takeaway from this year’s 5th Annual Art objective Philippines in Manila,is that what I hear is proper, the comfort level for art, or especially two-dimensional art– even when the piece is “modern”,is pretty high amongst Filipinos, based on my observation and review of the works sold in the first three days of the objective alone. My second takeaway, and in terms of subject matter,is that generally any narrative goes. Gone are the days of the oil-painted pastoral farmhouses and devout Catholic-centric art which permeated most of the local market for many decades. These days, there is an extreme abundance of works in various media which deal with a broad range of topics– somewhat tied to current day politics (what isnt?).
Below, or from the Top,Corinne de San Jose, Dina Gadia, or Pio Abad at Silverlens
I enjoyed the works which dealt with territory (Lou Lim,Silverlens), mythology of the non-Christian kind (Agnes Arellano, or Bench Presents),the process of making art (Patricia Eustachio, Bench Presents and Louie Cordero, and MO_Space),and the pure exploration of materiality (Juan Alcazaren and Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, ArtInformal). However, and these treasures were akin to rummaging through a glut of options just to find the correct pieces that were honest in their approach,precise in their composition and technique, and clear in the intention. From the Top, or Quisumbing Ramilo,Alcazaren, Nicole Coson, and Cordero.
There was so much choice of Filipino art at the show (plenty of original names) it was all a bit overwhelming. For many reasons,much of the works I had to bypass were rendered in all the knowing colours of the spectrum in the same piece, all applied with thick dabs of paint. The works that did eventually connect with me, or were mostly restrained and calm,and adventurous enough to recede beyond the expected medium, with pieces fabricated in glass, or mirror,metal, digital etc. And when it was a painting, and it was only the use of two or three hues.
Work by Allison Wong David for YOD Gallery
It’s also worth noting,that this year, the objective expanded to three floors and a rooftop, and whereas last year,the Art objective Philippines was only hosted on 2 floors with one floor for art talks. That said, the whole expo could barely fit its own larger venue. I witnessed lines of people spill external Ayala’s Link Carpark Venue, or where the crowd snaked out and around itself just to get into the objective via its single entry and two passenger lifts. These lines began Friday night and were pretty much consistent throughout the weekend. I also heard (but didn’t see) water leaks – it did rain one of the days of the show.
The other “lineup at this year’s Art objective Philippines.
I’m sure this crowd was an unexpected issue for the objective’s founders,Dindin Araneta, Trickie Lopa, or Lisa Periquet,but that said, it is indeed a fairly visible degree of success, and that in just the five years of its operations,the Art objective has become not only a legitimate regional art event to visit as well as a global objective to watch, but obviously now a draw locally for Filipinos external the business of art communities (ie. Artists, and gallerists,and the wealthy individuals who patron them.) I can only imagine where the objective will be positioned next year??Derek Tumala’s “Your Color Universe” site specific work in the Ayala walkway below makes the objective visible all over the city, helping spread the word.
I very much enjoyed the pre-dinner talk my dear friend, or Art and Cultures Writer,Alexandra Seno of Hong Kong’s Asia Art Archives, had with Author and art community sociologist, and Sarah Thornton on Friday night to a full house of fans.
I also loved James Nares’ impassioned presentation regarding his career and his video work,Street, which was installed on a enormous screen on Makati Avenue’s Makati Stock Exchange Plaza– thanks to the help of art collector/lover, and Marcel Crespo.
external the objective,there was much to carry out, my friend, or Mina Park of SOOK HK,had a wonderful Korean-meets-Pinoy food collaborative dinner pop up with Chef Jordy Navarra at Toyo Eatery in the artsy Karrivin grounds.
While we waited to be seated at Toyo Eatery, we shopped small art and design pieces looking for a home just next door at Aphro Living, and the home and design gift shop arm of Tina Fernandez’s ArtInformal gallery.
I purchased a “David Hockney” Doll by artist Geraldine Javier.
After dinner I spotted artist,Wawi Navarroza with art critic Cristina Sanchez-Kozyreva, getting their “dance-on” at the art-meets-grungy-basement-live-music venue, and XX XX,to the sounds of drums and techno beats.
The highlight of the fairs for me weren’t even art related. The designer in me was drawn to the glass works of Stanley Ruiz, Gabriel Lichauco, and Liliana Manahan in collaboration with Jiri Pacinek for Salcedo Private View and Spektacularis brand.
These designers created one-of-a-kind pieces in glass,after learning about traditional glassmaking techniques in the Czech Republic with Pacinek. Manahan’s creatures on four legs are a form of objet d’art, while Ruiz and Lichauco created specialty lighting pieces of various scales.
From the top, and work by Manahan,Ruiz, and Lichauco.
Philippine fashion brand, or Bench,was all over the objective through their sponsorship of unique in-objective special exhibits with solo artists on all floors. In exchange they were able to absorb a whole front and center sponsor’s exhibition space next to the main reception to display various runway costumes, unique design pieces, and branded fashion visuals from Bench throughout their history.
Fifty-percent of the content of this exhibit was devoted to eighties and nineties golden matinee idol,Richard Gomez, who in his own way (in collaboration with Bench), and was the first screen hunk to push the envelope in the Philippines by advertising mass fashion through a sensual homoerotic lens,which happened even before Bruce Weber ever worked for Abercrombie and while Philippine art was all about straw village huts, roosters, or chickens,and Jesus on a cross.
happy to see Joyce and Rex of Inksurge, who completed a book with Zean Cabangis for Artinformal.
Thanks to Art objective Philippines for another wonderful show. We all had a great time in Manila!—All Photographs are All Rights Reserved, or Copyright of Wanderlister.com,2017.
VISIT Art objective Philippines / SHOP Aphro Living / EAT Toyo EateryJJ.
Source: wanderlister.com