Noted artist-publisher Roy Espinosa puts out “Contemporary Art by Asian Artists”

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Multi-awarded Filipino publisher and artist Roy Espinosa just released the coffee table book “Contemporary Art by Asian Artists.” 

The art book explores the culturally diverse posits of 60 Asian visual artists as they “respond to personal and conglomerate notions of inner visions and exoteric realities projected in their art and art-making.”

The project by Filarts, Inc. featured artworks from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. The artists involved articulated to a large degree the cultural identity of their nations.

Serving as content editor is one-time Manila Bulletin writer and National Museum art researcher Ben-Oliver Matias who worked with co-authors Vanessa Tan Gana and Ruth C. Espinosa has kept in touch with artists from around the world amidst the new normal situation and takes pride in his pandemic period coffee table book project “Contemporary Art by Asian Artists,” now available in the market for P4,500 each, with a thousand-peso discount if bought directly from him. 

For book copy orders and further inquiries, please call at this number: 09214799189

Japanese Breakfast makes her late-night tv debut on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon

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Japanese Breakfast, the musical project of Korean American artist Michelle Zauner, made her late-night television debut on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon recently performing "Be Sweet," the acclaimed new single from her anticipated upcoming album, Jubilee.

 

The band also performed "Jimmy Fallon Big!," from 2017's Soft Sounds From Another Planet as a web exclusive, a song Zauner wrote about the bass player of her previous band. "He'd been offered a better touring gig and so he sat me down at my kitchen table and told me he had to quit the band because this other band were going to be 'Jimmy Fallon big.' At the time it felt like losing a brother, and there was this shame, feeling like I was never going to get there myself," Zauner told NPR. "Funny enough, he now plays bass in Japanese Breakfast! Now we just need to play Jimmy Fallon and the cycle will be complete!"

 
WATCH JIMMY FALLON EXPLAIN THE SONG "JIMMY FALLON BIG!"

 
EARLY PRAISE FOR JUBILEE:
 
“We may be contending with grief and illness on a mass scale, but Japanese Breakfast gives us a way to resist sorrow.” -Pitchfork, Best New Track
 
"Confidently opens up her sonic universe. 'Be Sweet' is immaculately executed ‘80s synth-pop, down to the polyrhythms and the harmonies that kick in during the radio-ready chorus." -Billboard
 
“Cuts through her ubiquitous dreaminess with an effectively direct message. Sincerity is an uphill battle, and Michelle Zauner is committed to the climb.” -The FADER
 
“Zauner [is] channeling joy and ecstasy just as she once so devastatingly channeled grief.” -Stereogum
 
“After two albums spent amid dream-pop excavations of grief and longing, Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner is bringing the joy — and it sounds infectious as hell.” -MTV
 
“An impressive vocal performance… The album’s lead single is a joyous and hopeful introduction to Zauner’s next album.” -Paste
 
“A new era of Japanese Breakfast is coming – and it’s a very joyous one.” -The AV Club
 
“Upbeat and optimistic.” -UPROXX


 

From the moment she began writing her new album, Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner knew that she wanted to call it Jubilee. After all, a jubilee is a celebration of the passage of time—a festival to usher in the hope of a new era in brilliant technicolor. Zauner’s first two albums garnered acclaim for the way they grappled with anguish; Psychopomp was written as her mother underwent cancer treatment, while Soft Sounds From Another Planet took the grief she held from her mother‘s death and used it as a conduit to explore the cosmos. Now, at the start of a new decade, Japanese Breakfast is ready to fight for happiness, an all-too-scarce resource in our seemingly crumbling world.

 

How does she do it? With a joyful noise. Jubilee bursts with the most wide-ranging arrangements of Zauner’s career. Each song unfurls a new aspect of her artistry.

 

In the years leading up to Jubilee, Zauner also took theory lessons and studied piano in earnest for the first time, in an effort to improve her range as a songwriter: “I’ve never wanted to rest on any laurels. I wanted to push it as far as it could go, inviting more people in and pushing myself as a composer, a producer, and arranger.”

 

Throughout Jubilee, Zauner is hardly fictionalizing her lyrics, instead pouring her own life into the universe of each song to tell real stories, and allowing those universes, in turn, to fill in the details. Joy, change, evolution—these things take real-time, and real effort. And Japanese Breakfast is here for it.

 

JUBILEE
JUNE 4TH, 2021
 
1. Paprika
2. Be Sweet
3. Kokomo, IN
4. Slide Tackle
5. Posing in Bondage
6. Sit
7. Savage Good Boy
8. In Hell
9. Tactics
10. Posing for Cars

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David Medalla's Cloud Canyons No. 31, home at BDO Corporate Center Ortigas

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BDO Unibank, Inc. presents the work of Filipino artist David Medalla, Cloud Canyons No. 31, at its Corporate Center in Ortigas (CCO). Permanently installed at its lobby, the Bank welcomes everyone to visit the sculpture.

Cloud Canyons No. 31 was first exhibited in 2016 when Medalla was one of the shortlisted artists for the inaugural Hepworth Wakefield Prize for Sculpture. Made of plexiglas tubes, wood, fibreglass, water, soap, and oxygenators, it is part of a series often referred to as the "bubble machines."

The first of these was produced in 1961 and inspired by Medalla's memories of a dying Japanese soldier's frothing mouth, clouds during tropical sunsets in Manila, the bubbling ginataan (coconut milk) of his mother's cooking, a brewery in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Skyline of New York. It was initially exhibited in 1964 at the Signals Gallery in London.

Other Cloud Canyons can be found in the collections of Tate Modern and National Gallery Singapore. The series is considered one of Medalla's seminal artworks

Medalla is increasingly recognized as an important figure in contemporary art, and his contributions to sculpture and performance art have inspired many. His Cloud Canyons No. 31 is a rare sight but is a very historically important work of art-and it gives BDO great pleasure to be able to show it-permanently-for all to see.

David Medalla is a Filipino artist who has practiced abroad for most of his life. His work ranges from sculpture to kinetic art to painting, installation and performance art. He currently lives in Manila.

Medalla is recognized as a key figure in the development of installation, kinetic and participatory art. His practice challenges the idea of sculpture as solid, timeliness and monumental by producing objects and situations that never be repeated and are continually changing form and matter.

The artist moved to London in 1960, and was included in some of the more important exhibitions during the 1960s and 70s that defined minimal and conceptual practice in Europe and the US.

Global, PH Design Leaders at Int’l Design Conference 2018

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Local and foreign design rock stars, change makers and industry leaders are participating in the International Design Conference (IDC) 2018 on September 21 at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura. 

Theme of the conference is Dangerous Ideas: Unleashing Design Leadership. Organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the one-day event will seek to outline the different ways to make ideas that are nothing short of dangerous the norm in a world of hyper-change. 

Keynote speakers include Quotient Design Research founder Michael Barry and Aidea, Inc. president and chief executive officer Abelardo “Jojo” M. Tolentino, Jr. 

Barry, an engineer and product designer, will contextualize craftsmanship in the wake of Industrialization 4.0 that makes more digitization and mechanized fabrication more and more sophisticated. With his artistry rooted firmly in Philippine culture, Tolentino will discuss his journey as a homegrown talent. 

He will also share the secret that enabled Aidea to become the first and only Philippine architectural firm included in Building Design’s World Architecture100, a ranking of the top firms in the world. Aidea is ranked 47th. 

Launched in 2017, the International Design Conference embodies the ethos of Design Center – to nurture a strong community of creative and act as a catalyst for the design community to thrive. 

For more information, visit https://designcenter.ph/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DTI.DesignCenterPH/. 

Filipino artists get wider reach in SM malls

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Budding artists and professional visual artists in the country are finding a bigger audience out of the millions of daily customers of SM Supermalls. Throughout the summer season, at least four art festivals and art-inspired mall events have showcased an eclectic mix masterpieces and art expressions in various SM malls nationwide.

Live mural painting. 3D Panel by Anjo Bolarda at the launch of SM North Edsa’s Art Karnival: Vinyl on Vinyl

Currently ongoing is SM North Edsa’s ‘Art Karnival: Vinyl on Vinyl’ – a fun and colorful exhibit of art installations, murals, 3D and interactive displays created by a diverse group of pop culture artists like Tyang Karyel, Dex Fernandez and Blic among others. Shoppers and tenants are treated to the visual stimulation provided by the combination of fun and surreal artworks spread throughout the stretch of the mall’s Sky Garden. 

“SM Supermalls has been supporting local visual artists over the years. This is one of the many campaigns we do to encourage Filipino talent and to inspire appreciation of art across the country. Through the colorful art pieces, our customers get to enjoy as well a fun and refreshing vibe in the malls apart from the usual shopping and dining,” said SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Jonjon San Agustin.

In the South Luzon area, the ‘Shop & Make Art’ contest takes inspiration from the popular commercial art coloring books. After shopping, customers from Muntinlupa, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, and Bicol may be able to participate by coloring in the art templates with their choice coloring medium and style. The competition is still ongoing and culminates on June 15.

Prior to these art-inspired happenings, SM has also hosted summer art events in Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Davao in Mindanao; a unique solar-powered art installation by Brian Sergio in Marilao, Bulacan; and the annual photo exhibit in Baguio featuring the works of PWDs.

With 61 malls now present nationwide, SM not just aims to continue but widen as well its campaign to promote Filipino visual art and appreciation, ultimately providing Filipino artists and the general public a major venue to connect through meaningful occasions.

Globe Broadband brings wonderful surprises with premiere of Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory

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Customers get a chance to win free tickets and a private block screening for friends and family

A wonderful Monday afternoon, June 13, 2016 meeting Disney/Pixar Filipino sketch artist Paul Abadilla, as he talks with animation / arts students about his experience in being a part of the #animation team of Finding Dory movie. 

Disney/Pixar Filipino sketch artist Paul Abadilla talks about his experience in being a part of the animation team of Finding Dory among aspiring animation students at a by-invitation seminar.

Disney/Pixar Filipino sketch artist Paul Abadilla, talks about his experience in being a part of the #animation team of Finding Dory movie during a meet and greet event with animation students and media held at the Makati Diamond Residence, Makati City, June 13, 2016. 

Globe Broadband brings wonderful surprises to customers in line with the much-awaited movie premiere, Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory. As the official broadband service partner of Disney in the Philippines, Globe Broadband customers are in for a whole lot of fun with its latest events, ticket giveaways, and special prizes.

Directed by Andrew Stanton and Angus McLane, Finding Dory is the highly anticipated sequel of the successful 2003 movie Finding Nemo. Now the main protagonist, Dory the forgetful blue tang fish explores her childhood through flashbacks. This eventually leads her to embark on a life-changing quest to go back home and be reunited with her parents.

“Disney’s brilliant storytelling has made most if not all, look forward to what movie they are going to premiere next. Finally after over a decade, Finding Nemo’s sequel makes its way to theatres and this gives us another opportunity to give our customers access to exciting giveaways and exclusive events. By taking that extra mile we provide our customers a more immersive experience.” shares Martha Sazon, Globe Senior Vice President for Broadband Business.

Headlining Finding Dory’s Philippine premiere is the homecoming tour of Pixar Studios Filipino sketch artist, Paul Abadilla.

Making his way back home, Abadilla is conducting a by-invitation animation workshop and will be sharing his work on Finding Dory and his experience being part of one of the most prestigious animation studios.

Globe Broadband customers in Metro Manila are also entitled to join the exclusive block screenings via free movie invites when they subscribe to a broadband plan or upgrade their current subscription until June 16, 2016. New customers are eligible to get four (4) tickets while plan upgraders get six (6) tickets. 

One lucky customer will also get a chance to hold a private block screening with 50 of his friends! To join, customers simply need to catch the Finding Dory artwork on the @enjoyglobe Twitter account and retweet with the hashtag #GlobeBroadband. Participants with at least 50 likes and retweets combined are qualified for the raffle and should stay tuned for the announcement on June 22, 2016.

With speeds of up to 1 Gbps, Globe Broadband currently offers a wide range of internet services for the home. Customers can enjoy seamless internet connectivity for the family alongside free entertainment content bundled with their plans such as Spotify, HOOQ and NBA League Pass.

Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory opens in cinemas on June 16.

For more information on promos and free movie invites, visit www.globe.com.ph/broadband/promos/movie-invites.

Tickets will be confirmed via the application email provided and can be claimed from Globe representatives in participating cinemas on the day of the screening.

Leon Gallery pays tribute to Romulo Olazo

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For artist Romulo Olazo, who has been known for mastering the art of abstract, it’s been a life well-lived, full of colors. And this September, his signature masterpieces are exclusively included in the magnificent roster of artworks and objet d'art to be auctioned at Leon Gallery.

Permutation Series No. 6' by Romulo Olazo

Olazo’s signature Diaphanous series, which he had worked on for more than 30 years, take center stage at the Magnificent Auction 2015. By now, they are considered as some of the most canonical works in contemporary Philippine art, featuring veritable visions of light achieved though freehand and gestural painting methods, as well as templates and patterns.

From the Diaphonous 230, where he projects a theatrical and operatic presence, to Diaphanous 285, a 1981 work which shows a sweeping dynamic verve that appeals to the viewer. The great contrast between the fragility and the dark background is also shown in this particular work through warm tones of orange, perfectly layered to present surprising structural directions. 

This signature abstraction, which is often monochromatic and looks like touching images from a film negative, is also presented in Diaphanous signed and dated 1977. In this work, the color is reserved to cool monochrome greens to achieve ethereal effects.

Olazo’s recorded artworks spiked in number during the late ‘70s, and this is the period when he released the Mini-Diaphanous paintings. At the Leon Gallery auction, four Mini Diaphonous paintings can be found, which “echo nature, makes pictographs” by transforming abstraction into a deep expression, according to Ray Albano in 1978.

But aside from the Diaphonous series, the Magnificent Auction 2015 also draws light to Olazo’s Permutations, with Permutation Series No. 86 signed and dated 1994. From this, one can see a kind of cubist image formed by the overlapping pages showing through their irregular gaps. 

Happening on September 12, 2015, 2 PM, these Olazo masterpieces are set to be auctioned along with the National Artist Juan Luna’s untitled work, featuring a comely European lady in full figure, Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s “Boti Garapa!” circa 1946 and Fernando Zobel’s “Sin Titulo” to name a few. But the main highlight is Benedicto Cabrera’s largest “Sabel” to be auctioned in the history, a portrait of a real life vagabond who used to roam around Bambang district in Sampaloc where the artist grew up.

“It has always been our commitment to uplift Filipino talent, culture and history through the arts; and it is with great pride that the works of these renowned artists have found home at Leon Gallery. Through this, we pay tribute to their notable legacy and skills, like Romulo Olazo,” said Leon Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon.

Visit Leon Gallery located at the G/F, Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City. For more details, visit http://leon-gallery.com/.

Fil-Australian Justine Joy with her album "Fly Away"

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Filipino-Australian-based independent artist, Justine Joy is here in the Philippines and her independently produced debut album "Fly Away" is a testament of her fun and carefree spirit that soars high with her intense passion for music.

Justine Joy spent her childhood years honing her talent in singing by taking a vocal coach, joining singing talent competition, and performing in numerous school plays. In 2006, she was spotted by a dance talent scout and persuaded her to be part of the newly formed hip hop dance crew “Gigabeatz” and went on to dance and sing with them until 2008. Gigabeatz won and placed in the top spots in several local hip hop dance competitions such as “Looze Control” and “Groove Hills”, as well as performed at many local charity and nightclub events. 

In 2007, Justine was fortunate enough to dance with Gigabeatz as the front act to the acclaimed group “The Outlawz” created by the late legendary rapper Tupac Shakur on his 10th Anniversary Legacy Tour, at their Sydney show with local artists Lia Maja and Abel. Also in 2007, Justine and Gigabeatz placed 1st in the local song and dance competition “Boogie Tunez” (Justine & Gigabeatz - Boogie Tunez 2007), the first of its kind in the area. There she was approached by Australian artist Neska after winning and was congratulated and encouraged that she has so much potential in her performance skills and to keep working at it to make her performance art the best it could be. This led to a number of live shows for Justine in some of Sydney’s acclaimed nightclubs during that year and in early 2008. Furthermore in 2007, during the “19th Philippine Fiesta Kultura” Justine and Gigabeatz were the backup dancers for Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby’s live performances.

In March of 2008, however, Justine Joy took on a new career as a flight attendant in a prestigious international airline company. During this time she had to go on a hiatus from Gigabeatz and her performing as she was travelling the globe and her unpredictable schedule would not allow her to make it to regular rehearsals.

Around 2010, after a 2 year break, Justine felt it was time to start performing again, even if just for private family functions, as she missed performing and the stage so much. 

Her wish came true starting again in 2010, when she was asked to dance as an extra in local Australian-Spanglish rapper “D-Minus’” music Video “Set it Off” (D-MINUS - SET IT OFF OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO), and then again in 2012 for D-Minus’ clip “La Rumba”. When 2013 came around, her passion grew ever larger when she performed on stage again in the “25th Philippine Fiesta Kultura.” 

Justine Joy, songwriter, is now setting sights on fulfilling her dream of conquering the global stage with her true passion: music. In between her 'day job' and travels, she hits the studio to write and record tracks for her album. 

And finally, the moment has come to pass. With her formidable spirit, boundless energy, and impassioned showmanship, Justine Joy is raring and ready to fly away.

She is now in the Philippines to promote her carrier single “Tonight” which she also wrote included in her debut album entitled “Fly Away.” 

Now available in all Odyssey Music Stores.

You can catch updates on Justine Joy, visit her Facebook and   YouTube.  

Here are some clips of her performances at the RJ Bistro, Dusit Thani Manila Hotel, Makati City during her visit in the Philippines.