Art Fair Philippines 2021 goes online
THE ART Fair Philippines goes digital for the first time from May 6 to 15 at www.artfairphilippines.com. Access to the fair is free for everyone. A highlight of the fair is a section focusing on digital art called the Metaverse.
Instituto Cervantes showcases documentaries
TO HIGHLIGHT the rich diversity of viewpoints and narratives this May, Instituto Cervantes de Manila is presenting the online film cycle Zonazine, a showcase of Spanish and Latin American documentaries. The films will be shown through the Instituto Cervantes channel on the Vimeo platform (vimeo.com/institutocervantes) and will be freely accessible for 48 hours from their start date and time. The series of four films will kick off on May 8 with the online screening of El cuarto reino (The Fourth Kingdom), available for 48 hours through the following link: https://vimeo.com/536445310. Directed by Adán Aliaga and Àlex Lora in 2019, this documentary has received several awards including the 2020 Gaudí Award for Best Documentary and the Grand Jury Award at the 2019 Atlanta Film Festival. It portrays the daily life of a can collection and recycling center in a New York neighborhood. Through René, an illegal worker from Mexico, and the relationships he establishes with his peers, the film explores the lie of the “American dream.” For further information about the cultural program of Instituto Cervantes visit the website (http://manila.cervantes.es), or the Instituto Cervantes Facebook page www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.
Enrollment for theater workshop series starts May 7
GMG Productions is partnering with the Open House Fundraiser and the Artists’ Welfare Project, Inc. for their newly launched Workshop Series. GMG’s first Workshop Series will be taught by international touring cast members that have performed in Manila. Each week, enrollees will have the opportunity to dance to their favorite musical theater song numbers taught by international cast members. Joining the first set of moderators are Darren Greef, resident director and choreographer of international productions Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, and Chicago the Musical; Alexanda O’Reiley, cast member and Mamma Mia flipper boy; Brian O’Muiri, CATS International touring member; and Louisa Talbot, associate and resident choreographer on West Side Story, Grease, Rocky Horror Show, and Matilda. GMG’s first workshop series will launch June 7. The dance workshops will be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3 p.m. Each session will be approximately one hour and will include learning choreography, cast hangout and a Q&A. Workshops slots are P3,500 per week. Enrollment will begin May 7. Very limited slots are available through the GMG Productions website https://www.gmg-productions.com/manila/workshops. A portion of the workshops’ proceeds will go to Open House as well as five workshop scholarships per week that shall be extended to qualified beneficiaries as part of additional revenue-generating measures for the Open House Fundraiser. “We are excited to partner with the Open House Fundraiser and AWPI,” said GMG Productions’ CEO Carlos Candal in a statement. “At the beginning of our discussions for the workshops, we knew right away that it was the right thing to do. With every show that comes in to Manila, we hire a team of up to 40 amazing Filipino musicians, cast and crew members, many of whom have been displaced due to the pandemic. We want to be able to help by making use of our network.” To book the Open House Fundraiser slots, e-mail artistswelfareproject@gmail.com.
Art Basel HK pushes through physically and virtually
AFTER an absence of more than two years because of the pandemic, Art Basel is officially scheduled to take place from May 21 to 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC). More than 100 galleries from Asia, Europe, and the Americas have confirmed their participation. In addition, Art Central will run concurrently at the HKCEC for the first time, and is free to attend with registration. The annual French May will continue to offer cultural entertainment, with over 100 events running from May 1 to June 30. To ensure that all fair participants have a stress-free experience, best-practice health and safety protocols will be followed, including mask-wearing, timed entry, reduced capacity, wider aisles and regular cleaning. In addition to Art Basel, which will launch a new digital initiative, Art Basel Live: Hong Kong in parallel with the physical show to amplify its international visibility, fairs that have adopted the hybrid format include Art Central and Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival 2021. While Hong Kong Arts Festival’s PLUS program is featuring a diverse line-up of online and in-venue experiences, the soon-to-be-opened West Kowloon Cultural District’s M+ museum is offering online movie screenings on demand. Actively contributing to Hong Kong’s art revival, the HKTB created a dedicated campaign website (www.discoverhongkong.com/Arts), which is a one-stop platform providing essential information about Arts in Hong Kong and introducing online showcases, art itineraries, an event calendar, artsy offers, interviews with art insiders, and more.
Two shows at Silverlens
SILVERLENS presents two shows this month: “Lonely Picket in the Balcony,” featuring works by Leslie de Chavez, and “Flower Moon,” featuring works by Kitty Tanigushi, both running from May 14 to June 11. In “A Lonely Picket in the Balcony,” Leslie de Chavez demonstrates the diversity of his practice by featuring paintings, sculptures, and installations. In keeping with his socio-political oeuvre, these works investigate the struggles and inequalities faced by the marginalized — victims of systemic injustice, brought about by political indulgences. Meanwhile, Kitty Taniguchi’s “Flower Moon” continues the artist’s exploration of imagery revolving around personal mythologies set in landscape. Figures are rendered in oil, acrylic and ink including tigers, unicorns, crows, lions, fantastical plants, and cityscapes seen from afar like mountain ranges. In the midst of it all, a woman sits in repose and waiting. Ms. Taniguchi’s re-telling of myths set in new terrain allows stories to return to its geographical roots and pave other ways of expressing self-hood. Silverlens is located at 2263 Don Chino Roces Avenue Ext., Makati. For details on scheduling visits, COVID-19 protocols and other information, call 8816-0044, 0917-587-4011, e-mail info@silverlensgalleries.com or visit www.silverlensgalleries.com.
BenCab Museum presents 2-artist exhibit
BENCAB Museum in Baguio presents “Message from the Ground,” the fourth joint exhibit of Abi Dionisio and Welbart. As a reaction to the ongoing pandemic, Ms. Dionisio labored her hands in threadwork to create embroidered moving images of hope and strength to represent the unwavering commitment and dedication of the people at the face of this threat. Because she also wanted to capture their gargantuan sacrifices that go behind each act of service, she painted the backside of each threadwork on her canvas to show how the seamy thread lines and incoherent knots make the front side we often only see most invitingly beautiful and inspiring. Meanwhile, Welbart, known for his critically acclaimed and highly celebrated nude figures set in chiaroscuro, reveal their faces painted in almost alabaster skin, indicative of years of being kept in complete solitude. For each figure, he carefully paints a crown of embroidered words he curated from years of his own self-fought battles. The exhibit is currently on view until June 6. For details, send an e-mail to the BenCab Museum at bencabartfoundation@gmail.com, or visit its website (www.bencabmuseum.org/) or its Facebook or Instagram pages (www.facebook.com/bencabmuseum/ and www.instagram.com/bencabmuseum).
First Hebrew to Filipino book translation launched
THE EMBASSY of Israel in the Philippines launched the first Hebrew to Filipino book translation entitled Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto, a collection of short stories by Israeli author Etgar Keret who is a leading voice in Israeli literature and cinema. His five best-selling story collections have been translated into 46 languages. The Filipino translation was done by U. Z. Eliserio of the Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas, Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura of the University of the Philippines. Anvil Publishing, Inc. is the official publisher and distributor of the book. Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto is available in National Bookstores and online shopping platforms for P395.
