Arts & Culture (02/10/21)
M Gallery’s ‘Masters of Mabini’ art sale
M GALLERY celebrates Chinese New Year 2021 with a retrospective show and sale called “Pagdakila sa Sining Mabini: Honoring the Masters of Mabini.” The exhibit sale pays tribute to eight masters of the Mabini Art School: Cesar Buenaventura, Salvador Cabrera, Jose D. Castro, Gabriel Custodio, Miguel Galvez, Paco Gorospe, Crispin Lopez, and Simon Saulog. “Now, we’re taking the opportunity to reintroduce 31 outstanding to Manila’s new art audiences: the new and often younger art collectors and aficionados,” said M Gallery owner Jeane Enriquez Monteverde. Headlining the show are two big impressionist pieces by Gabriel Custodio (1912-1993), Still Life-Going (43” x 51.5”, oil on canvas, 1956) and Ruin (33” x 47”, oil on canvas, 1954). M Gallery opens Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For appointments, viewing schedules, and price inquiries, call 8834-8143 or e-mail mgallery00@gmail.com. Visit mgallery.ph to view the collection.
Poklong Anading at MO_Space
OPEN for public viewing starting Feb. 13, 10 a.m., at MO_Space is the exhibit “Colorless green ideas sleep furiously,” an exhibit of mixed media works by Poklong Anading which look at how the city dweller dialogues with his surroundings, between what could be for and against Nature. The exhibit will run until March 14. The gallery is open daily except on Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For any inquiries, call 8856-7915, or 0917-572-7970.
Podcast on Zsa Zsa Padilla’s ‘Mambobola’
THE FILIPINAS Heritage Library and the OPM Archive present episode nine of MUNI-MUNI STORIES: A Podcast on Filipino Music. This time, the podcast — which will be released on Feb. 12, 6 p.m., on Spotify — will feature Zsa Zsa Padilla, Zia Quizon, and Karylle discussing the role of TV and digital streaming in the consumption and enjoyment of music. Representing different genres and spaces for music, the mother-daughter trio explain how the pandemic fostered an environment for innovation and collaboration among creatives amidst the crisis. This episode also highlights Zsa Zsa Padilla’s “Mambobola,” a sassy and playful pop tune written and produced in 1986 as a timeless OPM hit.
Miniature Filipiniana, traditional wear in online exhibit
MINIATURE versions of the classic Filipiniana and other traditional attires constructed from recycled materials and fabrics will be available on view in a virtual exhibit entitled “Figuras Miniaturas” on Feb. 16. Presented in two-to-three feet tall images, the ensembles include the garments of the iconic characters of the 1887 novel Noli Me Tangere, including the traje de mestiza of Maria Clara and Doña Victorina, Ibarra’s gentleman’s attire, and Sisa’s dress. Also included are the classic styles of the Sangley Chinese-Filipino Mestizos as seen in the 1841 painting by Filipino artist Justiniano Asuncion and the 1850s fashion channeled by characters Don Paeng, Doña Lupeng, and Amada in the 1972 short story Summer Solstice written by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. The Barong Tagalog; farmers attire complete with the salakot; detailed ensembles of Tagalog and Visayan royal couples and una india visayota; vestido de Gala (formal dress) and the luxe silhouettes of 1900s to 1920s Serpentina are among the outfits created by the students of the Production Design Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts. The exhibit is free and is open to the public. It will be livestreamed on Feb. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the official Facebook page of Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster (https://www.facebook.com/benildearts/).
Vargas Museum presents ‘Proto/Para’
THE UP Vargas Museum presents the “Proto/Para: Rethinking Curatorial Work” exhibition from Feb. 19 to April 9 at the first and third floor galleries. There will be a virtual opening on Feb. 19, 6 p.m. The exhibit — the result of the Curatorial Development Workshop supported by the Japan Foundation, Manila an the Philippine Contemporary Art Network (PCAN) — seeks to reflect on the relationship between the social context of the public health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the curatorial mode that is responsive to the current ecology of production. The exhibition presents the projects of the members of PCAN to which the chosen participants in the workshop had responded. These projects and responses run the range of curatorial work: archive, art history, exhibition, film screening, annotation, social media interface, and so on. Physical visits may be arranged by appointment only to be scheduled with the UP Vargas Museum via vargasmuseum@up.edu.ph or the museum’s Facebook Page. New museum safety protocols will be implemented to protect visitors and museum personnel. Walk-in visitors will not be allowed.
Exhibits at Shangri-La Plaza
IN CELEBRATION of the National Arts Month, Shangri-La Plaza is showcasing major exhibitions organized by respected galleries. The “International Contemporary Art Fest” will run from Feb. 18 to 24 at the mall’s Midlevel Atrium. Organized by Galerie Stephanie, this group show brings together 27 artists from 11 countries: Renz Baluyot, Edrick Daniel, Vincent de Pio, Alexander Calceta, Anton del Castillo, Aileen Lanuza, Shannah Orencio, Gabby Prado, Reybert Ramos and Juan Sajid from the Philippines; Roby Dwi Antono, Imam Santoso and Anton Subiyanto from Indonesia; Chayanin Kwangkaew from Thailand; Liew Mei Toong from Malaysia; Akira Miyamoto, Hideo Tanaka, Atsuko Yamagata, and Keiko Yokoyama from Japan; Noor Bahjat from Syria; Dan Barry from the United States, Julie Liger Belair and Meghan Hilderbrand from Canada; Cristina Gamon from Spain; Nunzio Paci from Italy; and Ciane Xavie from Brazil. Another show is “The Art of Healing, Resilience, and Resistance,” which will be presented by Art Circle Gallery on Feb. 24 to 28 at the mall’s Grand Atrium. This art exhibit is in celebration of Art Circle Gallery’s 30th anniversary and brings together contemporary Filipino artists whose work reflect on the pandemic. It is divided into two parts, the first focuses on The Art of Healing while the second is about The Art of Resilience and Resistance. It also tackles isolation, mental health, and personal struggles and hopes amid a crisis. Part of the proceeds from this exhibition will be donated to the family of artists who passed away during the pandemic. For inquiries, call 8-370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial.
Kaida Contemporary presents group show
FOR its first show of the year, Kaida Contemporary presents “Buntong Hininga,” a group exhibition featuring recent works by the the artists of room111: PJ Andayran, Raphael Carloto, Kendall Colindon, Christian Culangan, Kim Gaceja, Maribel Magpoc, Clark Manalo, and Mark Martinez. “Buntong Hininga” is an ode to the everyday as, in their own respective styles, the artists manage to capture a country trudging on wearily, yet full of hope, towards a future that is uncertain. The exhibit is ongoing until Feb. 22. Physical viewing of the works may be done at the gallery. Kaida Contemporary is located at 45 Scout Madriñan St., South Triangle, Quezon City. For inquiries, contact the gallery at kaida529@yahoo.com.ph, call 846-35859 and 0927-9297-129, or message them on their social media channels.
The Japanese ambassador talks to kids
THE EMBASSY of Japan in the Philippines is inviting children, ages four to 16, to join Hello! Japan Special: Kids Ask Ambassador Kaz! The Hello! Japan is the long-running cultural program of the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) that aims to introduce Japan and the Japanese culture to the people in the Philippines. For this special edition, selected children can ask Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko questions about Japan, Japan and the Philippines, or anything about himself. He will answer these questions in a series of videos to be posted on the Embassy’s Facebook page. To join, children who have a question about Japan that needs answers, can send a video of themselves asking the ambassador a question. The application form and guidelines can be downloaded from https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/11_000001_00323.html or apply through Google Form (https://forms.gle/9x4WTcJB4dePRirv5). Email the filled up Application Form to jicc-mnl@ma.mofa.go.jp. Requirements are a duly Accomplished Application Form and a video uploaded on YouTube. Deadline is Feb. 28. For more details, visit https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/11_000001_00323.html.
Pacita Abad at Galleria Duemila
GALLERIA Duemila presents the exhibit “Revisiting Circles in My Mind: Print & Paper Pulp Works” featuring works by the late Pacita Abad. The exhibit is ongoing until March 31. Born in Batanes in 1946, Abad’s most extensive works were her vibrant colorful trapunto, paintings, and prints which can be found in public and private collections in 70 counties. She was the first Filipino artist to participate in the Visiting Artist Program of Singapore’s STPI — an institution that focuses on printmaking — where she created Circles in My Mind. Circles in My Mind has been exhibited in STPI, at the Andrew Shire Gallery in Los Angeles, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), among others. The exhibit is composed of prints done in STPI. To schedule a visit or for more information call 831-9990, e-mail art@galleriaduemila.com, or visit www.galleriaduemila.com and on Facebook.
Virtual exhibit on WWII veterans
THE FILIPINAS Heritage Library (FHL), photographer Rick Rocamora, and filmmaker Horacio “Howie” Severino, present “A LONG ROAD TO DIGNITY,” a virtual multimedia exhibition on World War Two (WWII) veterans. “A Long Road to Dignity,” freely accessible via Google Arts and Culture (Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati, Philippines — Google Arts & Culture), starts on Feb. 18. The exhibit offers glimpses of the veterans’ everyday lives, embedding in a personal context their contribution to rights movements in America and in the motherland. Central to the virtual experience are photos from Rocamora’s 18-year project, with World War II photos from FHL’s Roderick Hall and Retrato collections. Video excerpts are from Severino’s documentary Little Brown Man in San Francisco, which he produced in 1999-2001 as a Pusod Fellow in California. Rocamora and Severino track how the veterans strive to keep a dignified existence in the face of aging. Both are acclaimed documentarists working in different media. Their works have helped advocacies supporting Filipino American and Philippine culture. Meanwhile, a photography book with the same title as the exhibit will be available soon at the Ayala Museum Online Shop. With a foreword by Lourdes Tancinco and an essay by John Labella, the book features Rocamora photos selected by the photographer himself.
Financial intelligence book is out
FINANCE guru Rose Fres Fausto turns the spotlight on principles affecting money behaviors in her latest book Why Financial Education Alone Does Not Work, the second installment in her financial intelligence quotient (FQ) trilogy published by ABS-CBN Books. “It took a lot of courage on my part to write this book. Why? Because many people would not like to hear what I have to say,” said the bestselling author, who seeks to explain why financial literacy per se is not enough to guide people in making better money choices. Why Financial Education Alone Does Not Work, a detailed assessment in the first part of the book followed by a crash course on behavioral economics. In the book’s third part called The Psychology Of Money, the author introduced two main characters who face various relatable situations as the author tackles 16 vital principles affecting how people arrive at money decisions in everyday life. The book is available on Lazada and Shopee for P680.
Lecture on art and its role in learning
DE LA SALLE-College of Saint Benilde and La Salle Green Hills President Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC will impart his creative journey as a visual artist in a free public online lecture entitled “Portrait of Brother President as Artist.” The webinar will allow the participants to immerse into the life of a Christian Brother, educator and artist as he describes his own works and the design processes behind it. Before joining the De La Salle Brothers, he worked as a professional freelance artist and did commissioned artworks and book designs. He conducted one-man shows entitled “Collages at Sining Kamalig” in Quezon City and “Suspended” at Finale Art File in Makati City and participated in a number of group shows together with fellow artists from The University of the Philippines (UP). He actively shared his talent with children through art workshops. He was an artist-in- residence in Vermont Studio Center in the US; Shiro Oni Studio in Japan; and DRAWinternational Art Center in France. Hosted by Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster (BACC) under the Benilde School of Design and Arts, the discussion will be moderated by fellow artist Dr. Sunita Mukhi, instructor and consultant under BACC. “Portrait of Brother President as Artist” will be conducted via Zoom on Feb. 23, 3 p.m. Interested participants may register through this link: shorturl.at/ctuH6. For inquiries, visit the official Facebook page of Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster at https://www.facebook.com/benildearts/.
