ART FOR LIFE

DECEPTION

SOAPLANDS

WORLD PRESS PHOTO 08

World's Top Photo Show Visits Manila

The internationally acclaimed annual World Press Photo Exhibition will be on view in three venues in Metro Manila, for the second year in a row, from August 1 -22.

The exhibit, featuring about 200 photos that won awards in the 2007 World Press Photo Competition, will be open to the public for free at The Podium, Aug. 1-7; SM Mall of Asia, Aug. 8-13, and The Block SM North-EDSA, Aug. 14 -22. A partnership project of the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University(ACFJ) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the show has also drawn support from The Podium, SM Supermalls and Unilever Philippines.

The competition’s photo of the year – an image of an American soldier resting at a bunker in Afghanistan, taken by the British photographer Tim Hetherington and carried by Vanity Fair – top bills the exhibit. The picture bested about 80,536 photographs submitted to the competition by 5,019 photographers from 125 countries.

The exhibit is part of ACFJ’s photojournalism program which was initiated in 2006 with the support of the World Press Photo. At the heart of the program is the Diploma in Photojournalism, a seven-course online learning program for photojournalists. The program has drawn some of the country’s finest young photojournalists as students and is run by an international faculty of senior photographers and academics. One of its graduates, Jaime “VJ” Villafranca, freelance photographer, recently won the Ian Parry Scholarship 2008, an international competition run by The Sunday Times (London), with a photo essay on youth gangs that was the major essay in the portfolio he submitted for the diploma program.

The competition and the traveling exhibit have been run since 1955 by the World PressPhoto, the Amsterdam-based media NGO that is reputed to be the world’s most significant and prestigious platform for press photography.

Shown each year at about 85 venues in 40 countries, the exhibit features the year’s top photo along with award-winning images from each of the 10 contest categories including spot news, general news, people in the news, nature, contemporary issues, sports actions, sports features, daily life, portraits and arts and entertainment.

The high quality of photojournalism involved is considered to set a standard in the field.

Filipino photographer Albert Garcia won the first prize in the nature and environment category in the 1991 competition for his picture of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.

Last year the exhibit was also shown in the same three venues, drawing huge crowds thatwere invariably awed, fascinated and moved by gripping pictures of the news stories that hugged the headlines. The show was likewise co-sponsored by ACFJ and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with support from The Podium and SM Supermalls.

This year the group, along with Unilever Philippines, aims to bring campus journalists to the exhibit through guided tours and lectures.

Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch group of companies, brought the exhibit to Manila in 2001. According to Jika Mendoza-Dalupan, corporate relations director, Unilever’s support to World Press Photo stems from the company’s mission of supporting the arts and culture of the countries where it operates.

For more information about the exhibit in Metro Manila, contact:

ACFJ
Jimmy A. Domingo (+639189212878)
Rona Saipudin (+639274703701)

Telephone Nos.: +63.2.9263253
+63.2.4266001 ext 5215 or 5216
Fax No.:+63.29263254

BARJA | MUJERES | VISTA | TUTOK

THE GSIS MUSEO NG SINING LOWER GALLERY PRESENTS

SPICY

INTO THE NEW HORIZON : IFUGAO

Into the New Horizon: IFUGAO, by Gualberto B. Lumauig, will be launched on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Club Filipino Grrenhills. The author, first Governor of Ifugao, then Assemblyman, Congressman and later Ambassador, served under four presidents in a span of 40 years of his career. The book's foreword was written by former Education Secretary Onofre OD Corpuz.

ART 40

ART 40 Exhibit and Auction with Julius Babao
126 works by Philippine contemporary artists
20 July 2008
PINTO GALLERY
ANTIPOLO CITY 697.1015 722.9205



Broadcast journalist and art collector Julius Babao celebrates his 40th birthday with ART 40, a fundraising art exhibit and auction on July 20 at Pinto Gallery, Sierra Madre St., Grand Heights Subdivision in Antipolo City.

Art 40 present 126 works by Philippine contemporary artists. Included in the collection are works by National Artists as well as younger artists. Proceeds from the exhibit and auction will be donated to Gawad Kalinga (GA) for the construction and development of the ART 40 GK Village in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, that will benefit 30 poor families.

The Art 40 exhibit-auction opens at 2 p.m. on July 20, 2008 and will run up to two weeks. For inquiries please call Jim Orencio 697-1015 or Rommel at 722-9205.

Artists represented in the collection are Jerry Elizalde Navarro, Bencab, Malang, Joel Ajero, Gus Albor, Juan Alcazaren, Hermes Alegre, Wilfredo Alicdan, Joel Alonday, Nuneucio Alvarado, Poklong Anading, Marcel Antonio, Julio Austria, Felix Bacolor, Pablo Baens Santos, Manuel Baldemor, Argie Bandoy, Gabby Barredo, Andres Barrioquinto, Plet Bolipata, Elmer Borlongan, Ruel Caasi, EJ Cabangon, Michael Cacnio, Froilan Calayag, Jonathan Ching, Mariano Ching, Seb Chua, Lena Cobangbang, Joey Cobcobo, Ninel Constantino, Daniel Coquilla, Louie Cordero, Marina Cruz, Noel Soler Cuizon, Melvin Culaba, Rene Cuvos, Aba Lluch Dalena, Don Djerassi Dalmacion, Joe Datuin, Bembol dela Cruz, Rolly dela Cruz, Antipas Delotavo, Ranelle Dial, Norman Dreo, Rock Drilon, Francesca Enriquez, Fernan Escora, Alfredo Esquillo, Noell El Farol, Tina Fernandez, Karen Flores, Bunch Garcia, Mark Andy Garcia, Pedro Garcia, Manny Garibay, Noy Gepte, Sandra Gfeller, Dennis Gonzales, Renato Habulan, Riel Hilario, Geraldine Javier, Jon Jaylo, Mark Justiniani, Erwin Leano, Tony Leano, Romeo Lee, Lindslee, Stephanie Lopez, Nikki Luna, Wilson Ma, Joy Mallari, Neil Manalo, Joven Mansit, Keiye Miranda-Tuazon, Ferdie Montemayor, Jason Montinola, Jan Leeroy New, Roel Obemio, Jason Oliviera, Andy Orencio, Jim Orencio, Ramon Orlina, Bernardo Pacquing, Vincent Padilla, Anthony Palomo, Noel Pama, Lynyrd Paras, Mario Parial, Mikel Parial, Samuel Penaso, Jucar Raquepo, Elmer Roslin, Eghai Roxas, Kirby Roxas, Ivan Roxas, Jose Tence Ruiz, Carlo Saavedra, Jaypee Samson, Jerson Samson, Popo San Pascual, John Santos, Pam Yan Santos, Victor Santos, Fernando Sena, Yasmin Sison, Soler, Christian Tamondong, Tammy Tan, CJ Tanedo, Rodel Tapaya, Alex Tee, Tatong Torres, Wire Tuazon, Roma Valles, Ana Varona, Lydia Velasco, Roy Veneracion, Jun Vicaldo, Cris Villanuva, Alvin Villaruel, Welbart, Janice Young, MM Yu, Christopher Zamora, and Costantino Zicarelli.

[QUINTOS] CONTEMPORARY FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS

A potent tool for a social realist, ramifications of a portraitist, and a conclave of figural manifestations were all rendered in this group exhibit entitled Quintos. The title refers not just to the street were these arts works are to be displayed but also to the five men namely Nunelucio Alvarado, Thomas Daquiaog, Jose Ibay, Dante Perez, and C.J. Tañedo.

On display at Galerie Anna, the exhibition “Quintos” is a gathering of artist that came together with their own unique way of expressing art and figuring their character of the society.

A compelling work, Nunelucio Alvarado evokes art into his viewers, producing an influential narrative creating a social repercussion to one’s belief.

Thomas Daquiaog’s canvasses strip off to showcase a hero within. His works glimpse the champion that exists in each individual in fulfilling a unique task in the society.

Jose Ibay's expressionist portraits stimulate the mystery that surrounds his art. Striking where human expression is foremost, spotlighting of the human face.

Dante Perez subsists in articulating a revelation, positioning an ability to interchange meanings or connotations.

Presenting a perplexed reality, CJ Tañedo’s reverberates a calling in his character while painting a bleak fragment of disposition that lurks in the recesses of his mind.

Quintos will open on July 18 2008 at 6pm and run till August 8. Galerie Anna is located at the 7th floor of the Ramon Magsaysay Center along Roxas Boulevard cor Dr. J. Quintos St. Manila. For more information call/sms 02 5679483/ 09274627567, email galerieanna@yahoo.com

SPHERE 7

THE ART OF GALICANO

You are cordially invited to a an artist talk and painting demonstration by Romulo Galicano on July 18, Friday, at 2 to 4 p.m. at the Tall Galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. The talk/demonstration, entitled The Art of Galicano, is a sharing of the artist’s philosophy, experience,and techniques as a portrait artist. (Please see attached poster and full invitation).

The talk is an auxilliary component of POSTURA: Portraits, Prestige, Posterity, which is ongoing at the Met Museum’s Tall Galleries until August 30. Postura features more than 60 formal portraits painted by Romulo Galicano and formal costumes designed by Patis Tesoro.

Entrance fee to the talk is P100.00 and includes a pass to the Museum’s galleries. Discounted rates are given to groups of 25 and above. Educators who bring in a group of at least 10 students are given free admission to the lecture.

For inquiries and seat reservation, please call Fralynn Manalo at 523-0613, 521-1517, or 523-7855, or email info@metmuseum.ph.

Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex
Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1004 Philippines
Tel. (63-2)523-7855, 536-1566, 523-0613 (telefax)
URL: www.metmuseum.ph
Email: info@metmuseum.ph

STUDIES IN UNNATURAL HISTORIES

Igan D’Bayan at The Crucible Gallery

Visual artist Igan D’Bayan mounts his third solo exhibit titled “Studies in Unnatural Histories,” which opens on July 15, Tuesday, 6 p.m., at The Crucible Gallery, fourth floor, SM Megamall A, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. The show is on view until Aug. 3.

The goal of the artist is to capture a sense of “nostalgia for a past that never happened.” “Unnatural Histories” deals with the weird and idiosyncratic way Filipinos approach history, science and religion — a Pre-Apocalypse look at a Post-Colonial country. The show is about Philippine history as a quirky circus and about the ringleaders of the tormented.

For information, call Chari Elinzano or Inas Amoyo of Crucible Gallery at 635-6061.

QUINTOS

PAJAMA PARTY

Pajama Party
New works by Christian Tamondong

Insomnia has never been this right.

Christian Tamondong can be found painting while everyone else is sleeping in the wee hours of the morning. Instead of treating his insomnia as a debility, he finds that being awake late---too late---at night is not as terrible as most people might think. He finds that the lack of sleep gets his creative juices flowing, which means that he functions better at night. As a result, PAJAMA PARTY, a peek into an insomniac's restless mind, was born.

When one hears the word “insomniac”, mental pictures of wide-awake eyes with bags underneath, rumpled sheets from tossing and turning, and a pale face exhausted from the day's work are usually imagined. The connotation is more often than not dark and depressing. However, in Tamondong's newest collection, we see bright, vivid colors and equally cheerful characters brought to life on canvas with acrylic. He paints certain objects which are indispensable to him as an insomniac: a pillow, a blanket, a cup of strong coffee, and street food.

In “Pillow Fight” (5' x 4'; Acrylic on canvas), he gives us a visually stimulating rendition of how our ideas battle it out in our heads. “Jack & Company” (5' x 4'; Acrylic on canvas) depicts a childhood security blanket not only as a friend and witness to many miserable nights alone but as a source of inspiration and strength for the morning ahead. On the other hand, “Super Strong” (30” x 36”; Acrylic on canvas) is the embodiment of an insomniac's energy drink (ironically enough) as he craves for the aroma and taste of strong coffee. Finally, “Hi. My Name is Tuki” (18 x 24”; Acrylic on canvas) is the artist's interpretation of his favorite street food tukneneng--- a constant companion to endless, sleepless nights.

PAJAMA PARTY gives us a fresh angle on the insomniac's nightly dilemma. The artist tells us that it can be more than just a sleeping disorder; if we can't get rid of it, we might as well do something and learn from it. Likewise, if we treat our weaknesses in that same and painfully simple way, we might get more out of life. We might eventually see it differently and realize that it's not actually as bad as we think ---it's only bad when we think it is.

“PAJAMA PARTY” opens on July 12 at 6pm and will run until July 31. Please visit Blanc at 2E Crown Tower 107 H.V. De La Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. For inquiries, please contact tel. 02.7520032, mobile 0920.9276436, email info@blanc.ph or visit the website at www.blanc.ph

GUNITAIN

GUNITAIN
Cathy Lasam


Lasam Presents Memories en Masse at Prose


Where the field of neuroscience has the Atkinson-Shiffrin model to represent the mind's means of recording memories, the visual art world has Cathy Lasam, with her latest exhibition titled "Gunitain." Featuring an impressive ceiling-to-floor installation of folded paper boxes, "Gunitain" opens on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at the Prose Art Gallery in Makati City .

At a distance, the installation is awe-inspiring, comprised as it is of 11,500 boxes packed closely together to form a wall-bound three-dimensional paper grid. Closer inspection reveals a carefully planned and painstaking creative process. Each box measures about 2 x 2 inches and was folded by hand out of a book page. The pages used to make the boxes were culled from various books, many of which were painted page by page prior to folding. Several different small objects, such as tiny chairs, shoes, food, toys, plants and animals, were then placed in most of the boxes in an apparently random manner.

Out of the Mind, Onto the Wall

The act of remembering or paggunita is of supreme importance to Lasam, as it affects her artistic pursuits as well as her personal life. "Just like many other artists, memories of past influences and experiences shape my artistic concerns and fuel my passion for my craft," Lasam explains. "It is precisely this act of remembering which I want to recreate with this installation."

Every step in the creation of "Gunitain" corresponds to a particular aspect of memory and recall procedures. The use of books as a source for folding paper suggests learning and data storage. Folding each box by hand is an expression of the concept of memory as an act of conscious and meticulous creation. The small objects placed within the boxes represent memories of personal significance to the artist. The empty boxes imply preparation for new memories, which will need to be stored as they are created. Finally, the grid format in which the boxes are assembled is a visual allusion to the artist's need to organize her thoughts, as well as to the method in which the human mind catalogues memories in general.

Paper is Passion

"Gunitain" marks the latest milestone in the progression of Lasam's paper art. Lasam has worked for years with paper not merely as support or surface for the creation of her art, but as her primary medium. A large part of her formidable portfolio is devoted to her stunning series of "paperworks," in which paper is first folded and then painted to suggest or simulate various forms and textures. Her paper art has continued to evolve, encompassing the realms of large-scale non-representational pieces, wall-bound representational relief works, free-standing sculptures, and landscape painting on raised-via-folding surfaces.
Lasam's paperworks have been spotlighted in several exhibitions of note, including solo shows at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the OWG Creative Centre, and group exhibitions at Big Sky Mind, Boston Gallery, the Donada Art Gallery, as well as overseas at the Museo Arte de Contemporaneo Ateneo in Yucatan, Mexico, and the Gallerie Gavarni in Paris, France.

Creator and Educator

Lasam is a multi-awarded cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts in Diliman, Quezon City . Awards for her paperworks include the Shell NSAC Student Achiever Award, the Dominador Castañeda Award, and an Honorable Mention for Sculpture at the 35th Shell National Art Competition. Lasam also studied painting and printmaking in New York and in Fairfax City , Virginia .

As a practicing artist, Lasam's background has proven invaluable in the field of art education. Having also been trained as an art teacher, Lasam has taught drawing, painting and arts and crafts to students of all ages at several venues such as art schools and art galleries. She is currently a faculty member of the BEREA Arts & Sciences High School, and a painting mentor at One Workshop. Lasam is also the President and a working partner of Artists in Residence, Inc., an art company whose services include art workshop facilitation.

In the wake of her growing popularity as an artist, teacher and entrepreneur, Lasam has been featured in broadcast and print media, as well as in online publications including yehey.com and philonline.com.ph. As an artist, her paperworks have steadily continued to attract collectors, who find her opuses represented by the OWG Gallery and Designs Ligna.


Lasam's 4th solo exhibition, "Gunitain" runs until July 24, 2008 2008 at the Prose Art Gallery , 3/F Lerose Building, 832 Arnaiz Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City . For inquiries, e-mail paolorosero@gmail.com, or visit www.proseartgallery.com.or if you want to see older exhibit photos go to www.paolorosero.multiply.com

ON VIEW

On View at Galerie Anna


Featuring the works of Marlon Magbanua, Kiko Escora, Jethro Jocson, Christian Espiritu, Juancho De Los Santos, J Vitug And Milmar Onal.

On view runs from July 7 to July 17 2008. Galerie Anna is located at the 7th floor of the Ramon Magsaysay Center along Roxas Boulevard cor Dr. J. Quintos St. Manila. For more information call/sms 02 5679483/ 09274627567, email galerieanna@yahoo.com

IN THE ABSENCE OF A COMMON GROUND

IN THE ABSENCE OF A COMMON GROUND
A GROUP PAINTING EXHIBITION


On July 12, 2008 at 6 in the afternoon, Habi Home Interiors Gallery, with its charming interior and intimate ambiance, proudly opens its door to the public as paintings in various media grace its vibrant-hued four walls. Artists AARON BAUTISTA, RODEL FIDELIS, KATRINA PALLON, and MARNELLI PUYOT collaborate in a group exhibit entitled “In The Absence of a Common Ground.”

In this open-themed exhibit, the artists were given the freedom to indulge in his/her chosen subject and/or theme with a very distinct feeling and experience resonating from each collaborating artist’s collection. Thus, in “In the Absence of a Common Ground,” one is treated to four unique voices communicated through the different perspectives of each collection. It can, therefore, be said that this is not just a single exhibit but four simultaneous exhibits in unison.

AARON BAUTISTA is a professional painter and art teacher from Angono. Working mostly with mixed media on canvas, he has established a style in abstractionism which currently comprises his body of works. Aside from being a member of Angono Ateliers and Neo Angono Artists Collective Inc., as well as being part of numerous group exhibits, Bautista has had a total of 7 one-man shows to date. Mounting a collection of his colourful canvasses, he once more adorns the walls of Habi Gallery with his vibrant palette of colors and lines, and layers of undulating paint. With his easily perceivable forms, daringly-manipulated spaces, and exuberant play of colours that seemingly burst out of his stretched canvasses, Bautista, yet again, displays and allows the beholder to appreciate the non-objectivity of his brilliant abstractionism.

RODEL FIDELIS’ foray with the visual arts started out by being an assistant to master painter Mario Parial. Keen in learning more about composition, lines, and color, Fidelis juggled his thoughts from making perfect stretchers and priming canvasses to working on actual paint – doing collages. He also learned the fine art of framing. After his stint with Parial, Fidelis moved on to work for the Heritage Gallery. To date, Fidelis remains to be a framer by trade to many contemporary as well as up-and-coming artists. In this exhibit, Fidelis showcases a series of mystical landscapes in oil on canvas.

KATRINA PALLON is a visual artist working with the medium of paint, photography, and masks. She also works as a freelance graphic designer and writer, participates in spoken word events, and sings for an independent rock band. Highly influenced by the intricacies of French art nouveau, Asian textile prints and patterns, Venetian masks, flora, circuses, and carnivals, Pallon’s artistic works attest to her love for elaborate designs and her knack for romanticizing even the simplest of subjects. Her works are mostly about women, of dark and melancholic, sometimes mystical figures and tales, of the fleeting beauty of things, of masks and mystery – oftentimes using warm, vivid tones to translate these images into paintings and/or photographs. In “In The Absence of a Common Ground,” Pallon fuses ornate Pan-Asian motifs, exquisite blooms, and female figures to present a collection of images and stories of women in acrylics, ink, and water colour.

MARNELLI NACION PUYOT once heard from a friend that humans choose to lead one of the two kinds of life: a life of meaning, constantly obsessing on the future and masturbating on the past, and; a life of happiness, which is concerned only with the present. Since then, she has asked herself everyday which life she would choose if ever the time for that should come. She is always conscious of the fact, perhaps even only on the personal level, that, rather intuitively, objects can be beautiful without having to have meaning, this quality itself is reason for their beauty. Ironically with this guiding principle her works explore ideas behind the nature of existence, and the capacity of the human intellect to hegemonize the world and everything contained in it. Marnelli is a 3rd year Art History Major at the UP College of Fine Arts. She is 21 years old and this is a first for her to exhibit her works. She also plays the oboe.

“In The Absence of a Common Ground” is scheduled to run until August 4, 2008. In between the opening and closing dates, one may opt to visit Habi Gallery at any day of the week as it is open daily from 12 noon to 8 in the evening. Habi Home Interiors Gallery is located at Unit C-235 Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. For inquiries and more information, you may call (632) 909.7050 or email artepinas@gmail.com.

13:52 GAWA

13:52 GAWA



The GSIS Museum Lower Gallery is proud to present 13:52 GAWA; an exhibit that features series of varied format-sized artworks in mediums of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and sculptures. It revolves around the idea of featuring thirteen (13) self-taught artists in one major exhibit; each artist exhibiting a series of four (4) works.

In academics, Self-taught Art refers to art created outside the canon of art history. But in the context of current terminology, Self-taught seems to be the most applicable adjective to describe visual artists working professionally without the formal education and scholastic degree garnered from the academe.

Each of the participating artists desires to continue to be recognized; to rise up; and in the process attempts to acquire experiences as he strives for excellence, and succeed. He continues to gain greater knowledge, develops convictions, principles and a personal creed as he continues to create his body of works. It is the conventional, the stereotype, the general comprehension of art, of his personal intent as an artist, and his personal causes.

The aesthetics of these Self-taught Artists can simultaneously mirror developments in Contemporary Philippine and Modern Art. The customary characterization of art is the cognitive arrangement or assembly of forms, colors and other elements in a way that affects the aesthetic sense. One of the greatest values of 13:52 GAWA is its ability to open doors to a greater understanding of art appreciation, presentation, and curation to students, artists and museum visitors.

This collective series also tries to encourage other Filipino artists to offer different perspective of their creativity and concepts while working under these unique circumstances. In this exhibit, the artists work with varied format-sized multi-media (with the minimum size of 30 inches by 24 inches vertical or horizontal orientation) to convey and capture the contemporary scope.

The artists in the exhibit include Andy Orencio (Antipolo), Victor Santos (Antipolo), William Antonio (Pasig), Ernie Gomez (Baguio), Howard Jao (Tanay), Monsar Lanario (Tanay), Ramon Piguing (Tanay), Manuel Sinquenco (Tanay), Beth Gadin-Macadangdang (Tanay), Albertine Santi (Las Piñas), Joel Cristobal (Baras), Leo Meneses (Pililia) and JCrisanto Martinez (Metro Manila).

The 13:52 GAWA exhibit opening and reception with the artists is scheduled on July 4, 2008, Friday at 4:00 pm and shall run until July 31, 2008. The GSIS Museum Lower Gallery is located at the Financial Center, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Pasay City 1308 Philippines. For inquiries please call Ms. Leslie Fangonil at (632) 551.13.01 or Mr. Joey Martinez at (+63) 922.331.41.08. Online inquiries can be channeled thru info@jcrmartinez.tk or artepinas@gmail.com.

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