ASYMMETRY

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ARTIST?

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THE COLOR BRINGER

Sunday, June 26 at 6:00pm – July 19 at 10:00pm
Secret Fresh Gallery, RONAC Art Center
Ortigas Avenue, nr. Santolan intersection
Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila

MUKHANG PERA

HISTORY COMES ALIVE! REOPENS WITH ‘MUKHANG PERA!’

Following up on last year’s highly successful run, the History Comes Alive! with Dr. Ambeth Ocampo lecture series opens with “Mukhang Pera! Banknotes and Nation” on 25 June, 3 PM at the Ayala Museum lobby.

“Banknotes are so common, we see and use them daily, but we rarely notice the pictures and text that are on them,” Prof. Ocampo explains. His upcoming lecture will answer why particular individuals are chosen (and, just as interestingly, not chosen) to have their busts printed on money. “Mukhang Pera” also explores how banknotes refer to Philippine history, re-present the nation and express identity.

“After this lecture,” Dr. Ocampo adds, “you will never look at money the same way again.”

Ambeth R. Ocampo is Chairman of the Department of History, Ateneo de Manila University and is a widely read columnist. He served as Chairman at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (2002-2011) and concurrently Chairman at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (2005-2007).

Tickets are inclusive of lecture and museum admission fee, as well as a free book by Dr. Ocampo. For inquiries and reservations, call 757-7117 to 21 local 35 or email education@ayalamuseum.org.

Ayala Museum, the country’s premiere museum of fine art and history and cultural destination, is located at Makati Avenue corner De la Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For more information on this year’s History Comes Alive! line up of lectures, visit www.ayalamuseum.org.

MONOCHROME

WHY DO PEOPLE BUY ART. . . FROM YOU?

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“YOU’LL NEVER MAKE A LIVING AS AN ARTIST”

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ALINGASNGAS SA PUNTOD NG DI-KILALANG BAYANI

ALINGASNGAS SA PUNTOD NG DI-KILALANG BAYANI

I.

Kay huna ng pag-iisip ng tao.
Singrupok din ng nangabaling sangang
lumutong na sa pagkakatuyo.

Dagli na nilang nalimutan ang kahapon
na nagluwal sa aming di-mabilang
na mandirigma ng ating panahon.

Ang simulain, ang adhikain,
agad na bang naglaho ito at
nagsa-Hudas kayo sa iilang pirasong laya?

Ako ang nagtatag ng lapian.
Wangis ng inang nagbuntis ng sanggol
na hahalili sa isang lumang lipunan.

Sila, ang mga kasamahan kong
nagtatanggol ng mga karapatan mo’t
nakikibaka sa kalayaan ng lipunang Pilipino.

Kami, yaong hindi inalintana
ang makalasap ng panunupil at dahas
sa pag-aangat ng antas ng pakikibaka.

Hanggang sa mapiit yaong nakikibaka,
hanggang ang lapian at ako’y
ninakawan nila ng hininga.

II.

Ngunit ano’t sa bitag ng lawin
ay dinuhapang ninyo ang pain
at nabulag ang inyong paningin.

Narito kayo at nagsasapagbunyi
sa pag-aakaiang nakalaya na kayo
at nakaahon na sa pagkagupiling.

A, nalimot nyo na nga ang layunin,
ang paghihimagsik laban sa pagkagupili’y
pag—aaklas sa kuko ng lawin.

Hindi nga ba’t ito ang adhikaing
Ipinamulat sa madla at pinagsugalan
Ng buhay ng napakaraming alipin?

A, Pasista, kaiingat sila.
Pagka’t nagsilang na ng uhay ang butong
ipinunla ng bayaning di-kilala.

Kapag namula na ang silangan
bukas, ay isisilang na rin
ang binhi ng tunay na kalayaan

Wala mang buhay ang lapian,
ay patuloy na iigting ang kamao
ng mga mandirigmang makabayan.

Joseph Crisanto Martinez
Samahan ng mga Manunulat ng Pamantasan ng Silangan
(SAMAPASIL)

unang inilathala noong ika- 15 ng Agosto, 1986 sa
DAWN
ang opisyal na pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng
Pamantasan ng Silangan

RELEVANT RIZAL

ART IN HOUSE AT THE PICASSO PRESENTS CONTEMPORARY CEBUANO ART

Five exhibitions—Anatomical Trajectories, Displacement, Lead Lightning, Teeth of the Mouth, The Queen’s Resurrection—open at the The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences on June 18, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. The contemporary regional art exhibition features the artworks of renowned abstract expressionists Tito Cuevas, Karl Roque, Sio Montera, and Vidal Alcoseba, Jr.; sculptor Ritchie Quijano; and graffiti artist Kidlat of The Junks Collective, performance artist Russ Ligtas, social realist Marvin Chito L. Natural, and surrealist Palmy Pe-Tudtud.

Anatomical Trajectories by Palmy Pe-Tudtud showcases recent pieces that reflect a personal narrative using a scientifically surreal streak. Displacement is composed of works by Marvin Chito L. Natural who creates a commentary on Cebu society. Lead Lightning features Kidlat of The Junks Collective, resonating their strong vandalistic force in the heart of a different city. Teeth of the Mouth, the fourth show, consists of video performances of butoh artist Russ Ligtas. The last show, The Queen’s Resurrection, is a collection of highlights from the artistic careers of Tito Cuevas, Karl Roque, Sio Montera, Ritchie Quijano, and Vidal Alcoseba Jr., present-day Cebuano artists who dominate the local art scene.

Curated by JV Castro, the five exhibitions highlighting Contemporary Cebu runs from June 19, 2011 to August 14, 2011 at The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, 119 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. The exhibition is co-presented by Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, Casa Gorordo Museum, Gothong Southern Lines, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., M. Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. and Brasserie Boheme.

ATENEO ART AWARDS 2011 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

June 10, 2011
ATENEO ART AWARDS 2011 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The Ateneo Art Gallery, widely recognized as the country's first modern art museum, is pleased to announce the 12 artists short-listed for the Ateneo Art Awards 2011: Anatomy of Autonomy. They are:

Renato Barja Jr. for The Jungle and the Rain
Solo Exhibition, Blanc Compound
15 January - 5 February 2011

Frank Callaghan for River of Our Dreams
Solo Exhibition, Manila Contemporary
2 - 24 October 2010

Olivia d'Aboville New Frontiers: Olivia d'Aboville Chasm of Fantasies
Solo Exhibition, Ayala Museum
15 July - 12 September 2010

Kawayan de Guia for Bomba
Solo Exhibition, Jorge Vargas Museum
15 June - 18 December 2010

Bembol dela Cruz for House Blends
Solo Exhibition, Blanc Compound
9 - 30 April 2011

Nona Garcia for Fractures
Solo Exhibition, West Gallery
27 July - 14 August 2010

Sam Kiyomarsi for Inalienable Dreamless
Solo Exhibition, Lost Projects
16 March - 20 April 2011

Tatong Recheta Torres for Make My Day!
Solo Exhibition, Yarn Factory Art Projects, Tochigi Japan (Second Life SIM)
21 June 2010 onwards

Maria Taniguchi for Echo Studies
Solo Exhibition, Jorge Vargas Museum
30 March to 28 May 2011

Rodel Tapaya for Simple Depictions
Group Exhibition, Alliance Francaise de Manille Total Gallery
25 November - 16 December 2010

MM Yu for Waste Not Want Not
Solo Exhibition, Finale Video Room, Finale Art File
7 - 30 May 2010

Maria Jeona Zoleta for Sure Sure, Happy Happy, Picture Picture
Solo Exhibition, 20 Square (SLab)
7 - 31 July 2010

Established in 2004 to honor the memory of its founding benefactor Fernando Zóbel de Ayala (1924-1984), whose support of young Filipino visual artists left an indelible mark in Philippine art history, the Ateneo Art Awards are given to Filipino visual artists below the age of 36 for outstanding works in an exhibition between 2 May 2010 and 1 May 2011.

On its eighth year, the Ateneo Art Awards takes the theme "Anatomy of Autonomy," dissecting and surveying artistic thought in the contemporary Philippine art scene. Unbound by any cultural, social, academic or even aesthetic dogma, the creative spirit of young Filipino visual artists is duly recognized.

From the 12 shortlisted exhibitions/artworks, 3 are chosen as winners. The winning artists are then invited to apply for international residency grants funded by the Ateneo Art Gallery and its partner institutions: Common Room Networks Foundation in Bandung, Indonesia, La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre in Bendigo, Australia, Artesan Gallery in Singapore, Art Omi in New York, USA and Liverpool Hope University in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

The Ateneo Art Awards are presented by the Ateneo Art Gallery, Shangri-la Plaza, SMART, Metro Society, Y-style of the Philippine Star, and the New York Art Project, funded by Marcel Crespo.

The works of the short-listed artists will be exhibited at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-la Plaza, Edsa corner Shaw Boulevard from 5-15 August 2011 and at the Ateneo Art Gallery, Level 2 Rizal Library Special Collections Building, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City from 20 August – 10 September 2011. The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 11 August 2010, 6pm at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza. For more information, please contact Ian Jaucian, Ateneo Art Awards Project Coordinator, at 426-6488 or email ijaucian@ateneo.edu.

CCP EXHIBITS FOR RIZAL’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Jeresano, Pacena et al, and PSP: June 2011 at the CCP

Young talents converge at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on June 17 to coincide with the CCP’s celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Jose P. Rizal. The CCP has chosen to observe the day by honoring deserving young leaders who epitomize the National Hero’s dedication and idealism. Likewise, CCP’s exhibit venues will be just as devoted to the musings and assertions of some of the most dynamic young visual artists today.

Prize-winning artist Ronald Jeresano presents his first solo exhibition “MANHID” at the Pasilyo Guillermo Tolentino (Third Floor Hallway). The exhibit marks an important passage for Jeresano, notwithstanding the recognitions he has received. “Manhid” collects the artist’s detailed figuration in paintings that counter the grounded certainty of the pose with the fleeting ethereality of the bubble; thus shaping the threshold of what constitutes numbness, or else a suspension of feeling or emotion. One such work pays tribute to Rizal as a figure of fragile hope in a child’s future.

Most notable among Jeresano’s awards was to twice garner the Grand Prize of the ArtPetron on 2008 and 2007. He was also Grand Prize winner for painting in the 2008 Metrobank Art and Design Competition. “Manhid” is presented in cooperation with Nineveh Art Space. The exhibit is on view until August 21, 2011.

At the Bulwagang Juna Luna (Main Gallery), J Pacena II has curated “KULÔ,” an exhibit gathering artists who were invited to reflect on Jose Rizal’s complexity as educator, ideologue and revolutionary. The exhibit is also meant as a fringe extension of the celebration of 400 years of the University of Santo Tomas, featuring artists who as Thomasians, relive scenarios of the toss-up between submission and rebellion; indeed, a boiling amalgam of raging heat that also serves to cleanse or make things clear. The exhibit will go on till August 21, 2011.

J Pacena II is a recent fellow of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth (JENESYS) Programme for Creators. Pacena was chosen through the curatorial development workshop organized by the UP Vargas Museum and Archives and the Japan Foundation in 2009. Joining him as co-curator is Jocelyn Tullao-Calubayan, a UST Fine Arts professor who has worked with the university’s museum and publishing house.

Painted directly on the wall of the Pasilyo Fernando Amorsolo (Second Floor Hallway) is a mural by the Pilipinas Street Plan (PSP), a group of graffiti artists who have worked their way from the streets, to museums, and to expositions around the world. Contributing to this ephemeral tribute to Rizal and the youth are artists Boy Agimat, Epjey, Egg, Exld, Whoop, Kookoo, Tawnie, Nemo, Ver, Tripp, Ungga, Wesndestroy and Jood.

All exhibits are scheduled to launch starting at 3:00pm on June 17 at their respective venues. The openings will be part of the program preceding the CCP’s program “JP: Ang Gig ni Rizal” to be performed at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) starting at 4:00pm.

For particulars about the exhibits call CCP Visual Arts and Museo at Tels. 832-3702 and 832-1125 locals 1504+1505 from Tuesdays to Fridays 9:00am-6:00pm. Museum hours are at 10:00am-6:00pm daily except Mondays and holidays.

FOUR FOLDS

This exhibition is composed of works with unique and diverse media. Each artist utilized their own techniques to exemplify their knowledge of the Cordillera culture to provide a multitude of perspectives and ways of exploring the Cordillera culture, resulting to the awareness of the greater Filipino community. The use of different media is plays a significant role not only in staging and presenting the culture alone, but also in addressing the cultural, environmental, religious, and social-political issues in the Cordillera community.

Baguio based artists Leonardo Aguinaldo, Edwin Macadaeg, Jordan Mang-osan and John Frank Sabado present works representative of Cordillera culture in their new show “Four Folds”. Their works of various media brings to the audience the different facets of the Cordillera culture with respect to its socio-political situation, environmental issues and shamanic/spiritual beliefs. The exhibit runs from 17 June to 8 July 2011 at NOVA Gallery, Warehouse 12A, La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. For more information call 392-7797 or send an electronic mail to gallerynova@gmail.com or visit www.novagallerymanila.com

MYTHS ABOUT PASSION AND YOUR ART CAREER

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QUICKSAND

Christopher Zamora: Quicksand
Republikha Art Gallery
15 June 2011

A tool ceases to be one the moment it morphs into a lifestyle. It begins to have an essence of its own. It breathes. It thinks. And then it consumes.

Christopher Zamora reveals the unquestioned dominance of technology over our collective psyche in his upcoming solo show "Quicksand" opening at Republikha Gallery, on Wednesday, June 15 at 6 pm. His canvas transcends a subculture conceived by an illusory will to connect and be part of something bigger than the individual. Zamora's art exposes the self-defeating dependence on "having," as a product of diminishing one's "being."

Zamora's work delves into the minds of the very real and living people simply called by technology pimps as "target demographics." Raw emotions that were once channeled through actual interaction with more raw emotions are filtered by the entanglements of fiber optic lines, wireless networks, and the evolving boob tube. Reality is continually modified and re-modified with the introduction of the eternal concept of "upgrades," further enslaving the fragility of the youth's need for self-determination. What is left is a landscape of blurred purposes – a barren dessert of plastic, microchips, lenses, shiny discs, keyboards, touch screens, and the organic ether of a lost generation's dreams.

A silent paradox is the ultimate portrait of this artist's theme. Aired are contradictions between the claimed benefits of "making the globe smaller" and the actual fruits of depriving a generation or more of the reality that is not virtual. This unreal reality is then reinforced by the willingness of indolent minds to not discern between purpose and consequences. And as the machine enslaves the acquiescing consciousness, a self-sustaining cycle of blind adherence prevails.

Zamora has carved his name in contemporary art through his solo exhibits including Sorrowful Mysteries (Project Space Pilipinas) and Infectious (West Gallery) in 2009, Silip (Boston Gallery) in 2005 and Everybody Wants to Feel Better (Kulay Diwa Art Galleries) in 2003.

He has also participated in numerous notable exhibitions here and abroad including We Was There (Yuchengco Museum, Manila) 2011, Yeosu International Art Festival (Yeosu City, Korea), Art Triangle (Soka Gakkai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Reflections (Bupyeong Art Center, Incheon, Korea), Studio Parade (Incheon Art Platform, Incheon, Korea), Media Concert 'Love' (Topohous Art Gallery, Seoul) in 2010, Tenggara: Recent Paintings from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines (Novas Gallery, London), Plastic Syndrome (Art Space Plastic, Incheon, Korea) in 2009, 2nd Hand Smoke (Cultural Center of the Philippines) in 2006, Buklod (Kulay Diwa Art Galleries, Manila) in 2003, and EMO (Boston Gallery, Manila) in 2001. His works had been part of an ensemble of art pieces presented in Art Beijing in 2008 and Daegu Art Fair in 2010. Zamora was artist-in-residence at Project Space Pilipinas in 2008, Neo-Emerging Artist Residency (NEAR Seoul) in 2009, International Artist Studio Program, IASK Goyang National Art Studio, Korea in 2010. He is currently taking part in the Southeast Asian Art Group Exchange Residency (SAAGER), an exchange residency among artists from Kuala Lumpur, Yogjakarta, and Manila.

SAKRIPISIO

Cebu-based abstractionist Dennis “Sio” Montera, confronts his fears as part of the process in evoking a total experience in achieving a rejuvenated aesthetic harmony through his current series and exhibition titled SakripiSIO. The artist’s works constantly focus on his ability to use biographical and deeply personal experiences as source material for his remarkably consistent—abstracts.

In this new collection, Montera focuses on the uniquely Filipino understanding of sacrifice as both an interpretative process, as well as a total concept that connects the individual, society, and material existence together into a logical and absolute experience.

The artist takes into account his recent struggles to balance social responsibility and personal fulfilment, anger and pain through the degree of gestural expression in most of the works while the other pieces signify the beginning of acceptance and the willingness to move on, suggesting the path towards enlightenment. Sio Montera SakrispiSIO will show us why there is a need to defy the inevitability of death, betrayal, and destruction, and how to assess the remaining time that we have.

The artist is currently the Vice-Head of the Committee on Visual Arts of the NCCA and a member of the UP-Cebu Fine Arts faculty. He received the grand prize in the abstract category of the 2010 GSIS Painting Competition. The exhibit opens at the Art Center of SM Megamall on June 17, 2011 and is part of Renaissance Gallery’s eigth anniversary presentation. For deatails, contact 632-6373101.

WHY ‘MAYBE’ CREATES UNPRODUCTIVE ARTISTS

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ISANG PAGLILIMI SA MULING PAGDIRIWANG NG ARAW NG KALAYAAN

ANG BUHAY, ANG KATOTOHANAN, ANG DAAN
(o Paalam Sa Kawalang-Malay)



Ito ang Buhay. . .

patuloy ka sa pagwiwilig ng asin
o kaya’y paghahanap sa ipa ng maisasaing.
walang puknat ang pag-imbay mo ng maso,
halos ayaw mo ng bitbitin ang araro.

walang suko ang nagsakuba mong katawan,
walang humpay ang nagsa-makinang katawan,
upang pagkatapos ay matatagpuan lamang
pagkaraan ng aniha’y walang laman ang kaban,
pagkagaling sa pagawaa’y walang mailagay sa tiyan.

ngunit kapag sumipol na ang silangan,
muli kang paaalipin sa nilinang,
muli kang hahatakin ng pagawaan.
kaladkad kang muli ng iyong araro,
tangan mong muli ang iyong maso.
magdidilig kang muli ng pawis,
magbabatak kang muli ng buto.
upang pagsapit muli ng anihan,
pagsahod mong muli sa pagawaan
ay matatagpuan mong di man lang nasulit
ang tagaktak ng iyong pawis,
ang lagutok ng iyong mga buto.



Ito ang Katotohanan. . .

Munihin mo’t nilay-nilaying pilit:
saan mang sulok niyaring bayan mo’y
higit na nakararami yaong minamaliit.

ang paghihikahos ng dantaon,
ang pasang-krus ay di itinakda o sumpa
o hatol ng tadhana o panahon.

maghihikahos ba yaong nagsisikap
at nagsisikap makaahon sa paghihikahos?

ano nga ba’t nagpatulo ka ng pawis
ay pawis pa rin ang iyong kakanin.

ang dapat mabatid na pilit inilihim:
kailanma’y di ka sasala sa pagkain
kung batid mong dantaon ka ng alipin.

ang kasalatan mo ay karangyaan ng iilan,
iilang nagtataglay ng labis na kapangyarihan,
kapangyarihang dinuhagi sa sambayanan,
sambayanang pilit ikinulob sa kamangmangan,
upang ang susi ng kabang-yaman ay mapasaiilan lamang,
iilang nagtataglay ng labis ng kapangyarihan.

kung batid mong kakambal ka ng araro
o lumaki ka sa paghambalos ng maso,
di nga ba’t nasasaiyo ang karapatang
magtaglay ng susi ng kabangyaman?



Ito ang Daan. . .

Langkay-langkay kayong alipin ng lupa.
angaw-angaw kayong martir sa paggawa.

hindi ba’t nais ninyo rin naming lumaya?
magbabangon sa pagkagupiling at dusa?

makakakilos pa ba yaong said na ang hininga?

may higit na lalakas pa ba sa pagkakaisa?

ang bilang ninyo’y sindami ng lilik.
simbilang din ng tabak, maso at karet.
kapag nagbuklod ay isang matibay na sandata
na kayang lasugin ang moog ng mga pita.

simulan mo sa karet ang paghawi sa talahib.
hawanan mo ng tabak ang anumang balakid.
gamitin mo ang maso sa pagpatag ng daan:
daang tungo sa maaliwalas ng bukas,
daang babagtas sa kalayaan. . .

Joseph Crisanto Martinez

unang inilathala sa noong ika- sa
DAWN
ang opisyal na pahayagan ng
Pamantasan ng Silangan

SHOULD CREATIVITY BE EXHAUSTING?

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RAFAEL PADERNA