Manila’Bang art festival opens Dec. 8
GALERIE Roberto has organized The Manila’Bang Show: ArtFest International 2021 which will be held from Dec. 9 to 12. Done in partnership with Artsper Europe and Art Moments Jakarta, the festival will feature over 170 leading contemporary artists in the Philippines and from around the globe (Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Serbia, Bangladesh, and India led by Reynold Dela Cruz). It will place at a premium 2,000 sqm space at Festival Mall, Civic Drive, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The fair will feature a number of solo exhibits including Ferdinand Cacnio’s “Dancing on My Own”; Anton Del Castillo’s “Reminiscense”; Ram Mallari’s “Artspawn: 10 Years After”; Marge Organo’s “When Sand and Fire Collide”; Julius Redillas’s “Tabi Tabi”; Christian Tamondong’s “Reflections”; and Rene Cuvos’ “Why Not?” There will also be several special shows focusing on the works of Orley Ypon, Romulo Galicano, Robert Besana, Nune Alvarado, Brian Uhing, and S-Ann Ch’I. The arts festival will include #ArtTalks, a series of dialogues on contemporary art, culture, and the market with professionals and practitioners in the arts, culture, and creative industries ecosystem. Speakers include Sandra Palomar-Quan, John Alexis Balaguer, Dr. Katherine Anne Correa, Mayumi Hirano, Renan Laru-an, Gian Carlo Delgado, Dr. Lorelei R. Vinluan, and Prof. Amos Manlangit. For more details on #ArtTalks, visit www.galerieroberto.com.
Pete Velasquez returns to Gateway Gallery
PETE Velasquez, architect turned visual artist, is one of the more prolific artists in the country today, even during the pandemic. He is known for his idyllic scenes of the country and of women. In his 11th solo exhibit, “Pidh-DRAW,” Mr. Velasquez displays modernist techniques in producing classic images on canvas or paper by means of line drawings and tonal renditions of objects or forms. “Phid-DRAW” is ongoing until Dec. 10 at the Small Room of Gateway Gallery. Gateway Gallery is open Mondays to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., although it is open on weekends for the visitors of “Phid-DRAW.” It is located at the 5th Floor, Gateway Tower, Araneta City, QC.
Unsinkable Harvest exhibit at Robinsons La Union
ROBINSONS Land’s ArtAblado recently lent support to Alger Guevarra, a La Union based visual artist and environmentalist who has mounted his Tsinelas Art Exhibit series dubbed as “Unsinkable Harvest” at the 3rd level of Robinsons Place La Union which runs until Dec. 19. Mr. Guevarra’s method of producing art is unconventional. He recycles used flip flops by grinding these into powder and mixing in glue to produce a paint mixture. Unsinkable Harvest highlights 18 lifelike paintings of vegetables, grown by farmers of the region. For this series, the artist used recycled slippers and mats as medium. The exhibit is open Mondays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Silverlens presents ‘Dobol Trobol’
POW Martinez and Jigger Cruz once again pair up in the Silverlens show “DOBOL TROBOL,” which is ongoing until Dec. 20. The show’s title is given that comical Filipino wordplay, not to make fun of itself but to provide an atmosphere of amusement and welcome the viewer to take in the show’s eclectic, humorous paintings blithely. This time, the artists came together in the studios of Cruz in Parañaque and an artist village in Amadeo, Cavite, to work on each piece simultaneously. It was essential to the artists not to overthink or overwork their creations, letting the works come to life organically as they alternate applying the various paint mediums and suppressing the urge to fill every inch of the canvas and paper.
Lecture series Poli-tech Stories
THE PHILIPPINE Italian Association has partnered with the Politecnico di Milano to bring to the Philippines “Poli-Tech Stories,” a series of talks on “Polytechnic Culture” on Dec. 22, 5 p.m., via Zoom, to be given by professors from the university. The discussion includes stories of science, technology, and creativity, stories of our future, stories of women and men who have distinguished themselves for their contributions in their particular fields. The program is created especially for the Filipino audience. To register, visit https://www.eventi.polimi.it/events/poli-tech-stories-made-in-polimi/.
Ricky Ambagan’s ‘I’m Coming Home’ exhibition
SALCEDO Auctions presents the second solo exhibition — I’m Coming Home — of artist Ricky Ambagan at Salcedo Private View. Mr. Ambagan has lately assumed the role of a cinematographer in the way that he presents his subjects. Intentionally breaking the rules of perception and perspective. Mr. Ambagan’s choice of displaying his artworks within maleta (luggage) frames gives a new, positive meaning to the idea of carrying personal baggage. He dares his viewers to ask themselves what their own personal baggage may be after confronting them with visualizations of his own personal experiences. The exhibition runs until Dec. 18 (Tuesdays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Nex Tower, 6786 Ayala Ave, Makati City. To RSVP, contact Kristine at 0917-6591-2191.
Advocacy shirts by Linya-Linya x Ramon Magsaysay Award
WEARABLE Activism: A Collaboration between Ramon Magsaysay Award and Linya-Linya presents five statement shirts which tackle truth-telling in media, eradicating poverty, protecting our seas, improving lives through science, and peace-building. These advocacy shirts are inspired by the 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees. They are now available at https://www.linyalinya.ph/collections/RMAF. Proceeds of this shirt collaboration go to RMAF’s Magsy Fund to increase the impact of the work of the Awardees and other emergent leaders.
Soft opening Ayala Museum, Filipinas Heritage Library
THE AYALA Foundation caps its 60th anniversary with the soft opening of the Ayala Museum and Filipinas Heritage Library (FHL). Closed for renovation since June 2019, the soft opening offer a glimpse of the newly renovated museum and library, with five galleries initially accessible to the public with prebooked admissions, timed entries, and limited capacity on admissions. In response to the global pandemic and to ensure guests safety, operational adjustments and safety protocols have been adopted. All guests visiting the museum and library, regardless of age, must be fully vaccinated and will have to provide proof of vaccination upon entry for the safety of all visitors and staff. Full protocols, visitation guidelines, and reminders are available on Ayala Museum’s new website: www.ayalamuseum.org/visit. To learn more about the museum and library’s new protocols, what to expect during the soft opening, and how to book tickets at ayalamuseum.org and filipinaslibrary.org.ph.
Kulay Labitigan mural makes splash in London
LONDON’S gastronomic epicenter, Soho, recently welcomed a new Filipino restaurant that has been the talk of the town for two reasons. Kasa & Kin, conceptualized by the owners behind Romulo Cafe, focuses on contemporary Filipino cuisine. Equally stunning is the expansive mural that wraps the restaurant interior in kaleidoscopic patterns, harlequin imageries, and the bright plumage of an omnipresent Ibong Adarna. The artist behind the mural is a Filipino, Kulay Labitigan, 31, an “experiential” illustrator in London with a knack for storytelling. Hailing from Tayabas, Quezon, Mr. Labitigan finished Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines Diliman and arrived in the UK on a scholarship grant to study MA in Narrative Environments at Central Saint Martins-University of the Arts London. In London, he was mentored by the late Filipino visual artist, David Medalla, known for his “auto-creative” artworks and participatory ideas, founder of the London Biennale, and highly respected within Europe’s artistic community. For 15 years, Mr. Labitigan has explored various media and areas such as theatrical production, 3D installation arts, and illustrations. Some of his illustrations are featured in select Jollibee stores across the UK including London. The mural design for Kasa & Kin was special for the artist as an immigrant living in the UK. “[W]hat resonates to me more is the bird (Ibong Adarna) as an animal of flight and migration. These are powerful reflections for every Filipino and non-Filipino dining in the restaurant,” the artist said. Included in the mural in Kasa & Kin are references to the Philippines, the artist’s childhood town in Quezon, and musings of home.
The National Economic and Development Authority’s long-term plan is known as AmBisyon Natin 2040, first drafted in 2015. Its targets include making the Philippines predominantly middle-class while minimizing poverty and poor health.