Showing posts with label Arts Exhibits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arts Exhibits. Show all posts

May 21, 2025

"Streamlined II" highlights the enduring legacy of National Artist Arturo Luz

Renaissance Art Gallery proudly presents the second iteration of “Streamlined: The Art of National Artist Arturo Luz” at the Art Center, SM Megamall. Curated by artist-critic Cid Reyes, the “Streamlined II” exhibition showcases Luz's rich and enduring legacy, highlighting his unwavering commitment to impeccable design and disciplined use of color.

In 1951, distinguished art and literary critic Recaredo Demetillo noted, “I must draw attention to the work of Arturo Rogerio Luz. His forms are alive and distinguished; he understands abstraction and austerity, the sense of space and balance. He distorts with intuitive rightness and grace. In other words, he is a real artist.”

At just 17 years old, Luz, declared National Artist in 1997, was already exploring painting and was drawn to form's simplicity and essential nature.

His first work was a portrait of his mother, the renowned interior designer Rosario Dimayuga Luz. As a figurative painter, Luz was inspired by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo, known for his spare and elongated forms.

This influence led Luz to develop his own vocabulary of shapes using plastic lines. He also drew significant inspiration from Swiss artist Paul Klee, who famously described line as “taking a dot for a walk.” This inspiration culminated in Luz's linear depictions of cyclists, musicians, and carnival performers, including acrobats and jugglers, as well as still lifes featuring boxes, Oriental ceramics, jars, bowls, and shells.

By limiting his choice of subjects, Luz could delve into the elegance of visual simplicity, precision, and spatial balance. He began to favor non-traditional materials such as burlap and laminated plywood, and at one point even used broken tiles to create a mosaic for a church altar floor.


Eventually, Luz transitioned to pure abstraction through collage, which compelled him to create compositions without representational subjects. This allowed him to focus on the planar qualities of form and surface and the visual tension that arises from achieving a perfectly balanced composition.

In the early 1980s, Luz expanded his subject by traveling throughout Asia and India. His experiences during this pilgrimage inspired many works that featured imaginary landscapes filled with temples, palaces, fortifications, and battlements — all transformed into linear symphonies of monochromatic tones accented by earthy colors like chrome yellow, dark mustard, cardinal red, burnt sienna, bronze, and brown.

Arturo Luz also demonstrated his administrative skills in the 1980s by managing his eponymous Luz Gallery, the Museum of Philippine Art, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Design Center of the Philippines.

Of paramount significance is Luz's transformation of the native artistic sensibility from festive and flamboyant to restrained and dispassionate.

A limited edition monograph with design and layout by Dopy Doplon and photography by Wig Tysmans will be available to accompany the exhibit.

“Streamlined II” runs from June 3 until June 16 at the Art Center, SM Megamall, 4/F Bldg. A at the corner of EDSA and Julia Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.


Facebook: Renaissance Art Gallery

#renaissanceartph
#renaissanceartgallery

January 24, 2025

Mapping Manila’s Chinese Temples at Yul Servo Nieto’s Directions VI

On January 15, 2025, the Art Gallery of The Manila Hotel hosted the opening reception of Directions VI, a solo exhibition of Filipino contemporary artist and City of Manila Vice Mayor, honorable Yul Servo Nieto. The event celebrated the fusion of artistry and heritage, as Nieto unveiled a collection of works inspired by Filipino-Chinese traditions and culture.

Mapping Manila’s Chinese Temples at Yul Servo Nieto’s Directions VI

(L-R) Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan, Manila City Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, The Manila Hotel's Vice President for Sales and Marketing Marketing Marvin Kim Tan 

The event commenced with a warm opening remarks delivered by The Manila Hotel vice president for sales and marketing, Marvin Kim Tan, highlighting the institution’s commitment to supporting local art and culture. Following this, the artist delivered a speech sharing his inspiration behind the art pieces and announced that proceeds from the sales will go towards purchasing vital medical equipment—such as wheelchairs, nebulizers, hearing aids, blood pressure monitors, and walkers—to be donated to those in need. Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan also delivered a few words before joining Vice Mayor Nieto and Marvin Kim Tan for the ceremonial ribbon cutting, marking the exhibit’s official launch.
Directions VI at the Art Gallery of The Manila Hotel, a solo exhibition of Filipino contemporary artist and City of Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto

In Directions VI, Nieto reinvents his signature metal art pieces with elements of modern Cubism, Cartography or the art of map-making, and Assemblage art. Moving beyond his earlier focus on planes, lines, and negative space, he now incorporates everyday objects—bolts, nuts, screws, and hinges—as symbolic markers. These striking pieces pay tribute to Manila’s cultural richness and include depictions of Manila’s Chinese temples and historic districts like Binondo and San Nicolas.

The exhibition’s centerpiece, Temple Splendor, reimagines Chinese temples with golden nuts arranged on a grid-like map of Manila. Complementing the wall-mounted works are two free-standing sculptures—Nest of Healing and Icons of Heritage. Forged from bronze and gold-plated alloys, these pieces explore themes of healing and cultural preservation.

As the Chinese New Year draws near, Directions VI pays homage to the rich traditions of Manila’s Chinese temples. These vibrant hubs of cultural activity come alive with lion and dragon dances, incense lighting, and offerings of lucky foods—time-honored practices that reinforce familial and cultural unity.

Nieto’s latest creations highlight the significance of safeguarding these cherished traditions while exploring new dimensions of artistic expression.

Directions VI is now on display at The Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery. Admission is free. For interested buyers, call +632 85270011 or +632 53015500, or email r.lo@themanilahotel.com.

July 3, 2024

STREAMLINED: The Art of National Artist ARTURO LUZ


By CID REYES

Paul Klee, a Swiss artist, describes his fantasy works as 'taking a line for a walk'. It is a fundamental definition of drawing, which is the art of representing a figure or object by tracing its shape. Color, in contrast to this linear boundary of form, produces hues of varying lightness and saturation via pigments.

After a midday meal during the Japanese occupation, 17-year-old Arturo Rogerio Luz began drawing a portrait of his mother Rosario without provocation. Luz continued to draw until his death. Drawing is the foundation of his art, representing linear strength and elegance.

The multitude of lines moves intricately, capturing in their tight web the astonishing variety of his comparatively limited visual themes: cyclists, acrobats, musicians, performers, ancient pottery, and Asian architecture.

The origins of all these lean and attenuated figures can be traced back to a sight he witnessed during a New Year's Eve celebration in the early 1950s. He noticed three men riding a rickety bicycle, maintaining perfect balance as they passed their street. Luz embellished the painting with a figure tooting a horn in the background. Luz considers this painting to be the most important of all. It's appropriately titled "Bagong Taon. He realized that the framework of all his future works would be linear and geometric. The line was intended to function as both an ordering element and a system. Luz, a meticulous draftsman, knew the importance of elegant and disciplined design.

Arturo Luz enrolled in the College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California. Three and a half years later, he enrolled in the Brooklyn Museum Art School after learning that an artist he admired, Mexican Rufino Tamayo, was on the faculty. Unfortunately, Tamayo had left the faculty a term before. Luz's early works, including Labandera, Awit, and Madonna, reflected Tamayo's stylistic influence.

LINEAR AUSTERITY

Luz, on the other hand, would be sensitive to Paul Klee's linear austerity. Klee's carnival forms and cityscapes will be distinguished by the electricity and energy they contain. He would give his strictly disciplined compositions a "snap" and a "spring." Moonscape, Nightglow, White Kingdom, Ciudad del Pasado, and Venezia show off a dense field of spirited, acrobatic lines.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Luz was preoccupied with the mastery of his image selection, which included ancient pottery. Jars, bowls, and other vessel shapes arose from his now-iconic linear style. The pottery images demonstrated that the artist was more concerned with their essential, sensual forms than with the subject's archaeological significance.

Luz began working at the collage in the late 1960s. Collage, derived from the French word coller, meaning to stick, is an artwork made up of cut or torn pieces of paper, fabric, plastic, leather, or almost any other material that can be glued to a surface. (Picasso's use of torn French newspapers and wood caning in his paintings is regarded as the invention of collage.) Luz created an astonishing number of collages by cutting pieces of paper into geometric patterns of squares, rectangles, and circles and then overlaying them with acrylic pigments in various muted tones, often in earth and neutral colors. He titled these collages in honor of all the artists he admired, including Klee, Tamayo, Rothko, Matisse, Marini, Morandi, Modigliani, and Spanish abstract artists Tapies, Torner, Millares, Rueda, Sempere, Feito, Saura, and Zobel.

His decision to pursue sculpture coincided with Luz's transition to total abstraction. Luz created his first sculptures in the 1950s. He carved Christ's head and visage out of adobe. When Luz first started sculpting, he was inspired by the forms of pre-Hispanic deities known as anitos. He used Philippine hardwood blocks like molave, balayong, and supa. He eventually recast some of the anito figures in bronze.

LESS IS MORE

The "reclining" or horizontal pieces contrasted with the standing, upright anito sculptures, which were long, thick slabs of hardwood. Even in three dimensions, Luz adheres to the principle of "less is more," which originated in architecture and was popularized by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a pioneer of the Modern Movement. The axiom implies that good design results from simplicity and clarity, which is achieved by eliminating excessive and unnecessary components.

This writer once stated, "His virtuosity lies in his insatiable desire for design. The greater triumph is that when a design moves from painting to sculpture, it gains everything while losing nothing in its pursuit of plasticity and objective form.”

Luz was challenged and inspired by a wide range of mediums and materials, including burlap, a coarse heavy fabric used for bagging. The artist brought this unsightly material to life with stark black-and-white contrasts and subtle tones of sienna and rust. Again, elegant, intelligent design shines through in these burlap fragments, which are layered and composed to create vibrant, exciting designs. Dynamic equilibrium and fluid tension drive each arrangement. The gridded texture of the burlap added to the tactile appeal of these works.

Meanwhile, Luz experimented with handmade paper. Sumi-e brushstrokes enhanced some of his collages. Sumi-e, or "black ink painting," was introduced to Japan by Zen Buddhist monks from China in the 16th century, and it has since become a staple of Japanese aesthetics. Luz also allowed black paint to drip from the tip of his brush, creating linear configurations and animating a space. He splashed black acrylic pigments in whirling strokes before reining in opposing blocks of solid color. Luz may have used gestural marks freely, but he did so with remarkable restraint and refinement.

Luz used brass and silver rods to create his cyclist and acrobat sculptures. He also experimented with jewelry, creating gold from quartz, lapis lazuli, and black onyx. Photography remained a constant in his work. As he traveled across the Asian and Indian continents, his eyes were constantly drawn to the breathtakingly beautiful scenery.

ASIAN TEMPLES, FORTS, AND PALACES

Luz traveled on an annual basis, introducing a new and exciting subject: Asian temples, forts, and palaces. He captured the essence of these ancient and impressive buildings. Once again, the artist used his linear mastery to imbue these massive structures with lightness, airiness, and weightlessness. He titled the series "Cities of the Past." These works began in the 1990s, transitioning from a rich and opulent color palette of reds and gold to the stark severity of black and white.

This prolific output of work over decades is even more remarkable when we consider Luz's various managerial responsibilities. He was the executive director of the Design Center of the Philippines for 14 years, beginning in 1973. At the same time, he served as director of the Metropolitan Museum in Manila, where he presented 120 exhibitions over a 10-year period. He also served as director of the now-defunct Museum of Philippine Art (MOPA). Despite these numerous responsibilities, the eponymous Luz Gallery, founded in 1960, continued to exhibit the works of the country's established and emerging artists. Despite closing after four decades of operation, the Luz Gallery established itself as the standard for newly opened commercial art galleries.

Luz received appropriate recognition and awards for all of his accomplishments. Among them are the Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Painting in 1966, the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters from the Republic of France in 1978, the Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila in 1980, the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining for Visual Arts in 1989, and the City of Manila's Diwa ng Lahi in 1993.

In 1997, Arturo Luz received the title of National Artist.

But he refused to rest on his laurels.

In 2009, Luz debuted a new series of large-scale sculptures in a show aptly named "Monumental."

Corazon Alvina, former executive director of the National Museum, extols his lifetime work, writing:

"His art is expertly crafted, and his treatment of themes, both Philippine and universal, is eloquent and clear. Though logic prevails, visual pleasure is evident. No artist in the Philippine landscape has ever had such a profound influence on the pursuit of excellence and artistic integrity across such a broad spectrum while maintaining the intellectual independence required of all true artists."

Despite widespread praise and admiration, National Artist Arturo Luz, the man who streamlined contemporary Philippine art, maintained a humble demeanor. He remarked, “In my own little world, I know precisely what I want to do. And for me, the greatest satisfaction comes from creating works of art. Nothing can compare to it."

National Artist Arturo Luz died on May 26, 2021.


***************************************************

Cid Reyes, a De La Salle University graduate, continued his education by studying painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome and art history at the City Lit Institute in London. From 1995 to 2004, he wrote the weekly art column "Gallery-Hopping" for TODAY. Reyes authored the seminal interview book, "Conversations on Philippine Art." He has authored or coauthored more than 40 art books and nearly 1,000 artist notes. He contributed to the books "TANAW: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Art Collection" along with "The Life and Art of Lee Aguinaldo." They were both awarded the Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize for Best Art Book. His book, "MVP: The Man and His Art," received a Gold Stevie International Business Award in 2021.

The Art Association of the Philippines named Cid Reyes "Best in Art Criticism" in 1978, and Art Quarterly Manila named him "Critic of the Year" in 2001, 2002, and 2003. The "Most Outstanding Kapampangan in the Arts" award was given to him in 2016. De La Salle University honored him with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2023.

He is the author of choice by five National Artists, namely: Arturo Luz, BenCab, J. Elizalde Navarro, Napoleon Abueva, and Fernando Amorsolo.

Cid Reyes, an artist in his own right, has held twenty solo exhibitions. His paintings are in the collections of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Trade Center in New York, Equitable-BDO, Deutsch Bank, PLDT, SMART, Meralco, and several private collections.

Cid Reyes is the publisher of Art & Lifestyle.

March 16, 2024

Artist Ginny Guanco's Third Exhibition “Her World” Presents The Mysteries Of Women

Artist Ginny Guanco presents her third solo exhibition, Her World, which opens to the public on March 17 and will run until March 22, 2024.

Through a sophisticated interplay of vibrant hues, bold, evocative strokes, and an intuitive painting technique in her stunning portraits, Ginny Guanco masterfully unveils feminine power, its captivating mystery, and the beautiful nuances of womanhood in her third solo show aptly titled, Her World.

From the tender age of 8, Guanco's artistic journey found its roots in a fascination with the female form. Sketching silhouettes of women in fashionable dresses and crafting expressive profiles, her early dedication and focus in childhood paved the way for her formal training in Fine Arts at the University of Sto. Tomas. Further studies in the United States in painting and watercolor added greater depth to her artistic repertoire. However, it was under the tutelage of the late Salvacion Lim Higgins, Haute Couture designer par excellence and co-founder of Slim’s Fashion & Art School, that Ginny honed her creative eye and refined her sketching skills, laying down the expert groundwork for her artistic voice.

Guanco kept her mind and hands busy, dabbling in art over the years. But it was only in 2016 that she seriously embraced her calling as an artist. Transitioning from media, then a PR career, which she held for over 18 years, she embarked on a personal odyssey, resulting in her inaugural solo show, Boho Chic, in 2016—a fusion of fashion illustration and human anatomy. This was then followed by her second “virtual” exhibit, Festival, which was an uplifting and inspiring collection that she created to counter the heavy emotions of the pandemic.

This 2024, Guanco marks a triumphant return with Her World. Described as "aggressive and bolder," this collection signifies her liberation from creative constraints, manifesting in 26 paintings that chronicle her evolution as an artist. “Here, I’m no longer held back and afraid to go out of the box,” she beams.
Ginny Guanco with some of her Women paintings for “Her World.” This is her 3rd solo exhibition.

One can still see the distinct touch and personaty of Guanco through her works - bright, joyful colors, intricate designs, and thoughtful details. All these signature elements persist in her experimental use of oil pastel. watercolor, acrylic, brush pens and Sharpie pens. However, one can more deeply appreciate the evolution of her style, which now boasts a newfound confidence, freedom, and power – certainly the rewards of her courageous introspection over the years.

“In her day-to-day life, a woman wears many hats – a mother, a homemaker, a housewife, an executive, a creative, etc. But despite all these labels, she is not defined by them. She is more than all these roles. Women have greater depth and mystery, which I find truly fascinating,” Ginny shares.

Her World will be unveiled at Gateway Gallery Studio in Araneta City, March 16, 2024, coinciding with Women’s month. “Women empowerment has always been a recurring theme in my exhibits. When you express power, people often confuse this with being dominant and domineering. However, women are able to convey this power, while also retaining their femininity and inner strength. She knows what she wants and she knows what she’s capable of doing,” says Ginny.

For commissioned portraits and bespoke hand-painted pouches and bags, you may send inquiries to her art pages in FB- Art by Ginny or @artbyginnyg in Instagram.



#herworldartexhibit  #ginnyguancothirdsoloexhibition  #gatewaygallerystudio


August 25, 2023

Gateway Gallery Celebrates Non-Conventional Art with Mangha-Likha

Gateway Gallery opened its in-house exhibition, Mangha-Likha: Defying Art Conventions, on August 16, 2023. Mangha-Likha takes a deeper look into the practice of using unconventional mediums and non-traditional techniques of art-making in the Philippines as a way to highlight, celebrate, and engage in further discussions.

Mangha-Likha is a celebration of the artistry of eight Filipino artists who defy the idea of art as academic, formal, traditional, Western, and mainstream. The group exhibition is funded through a grant by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Committee on Art Galleries. Conceptualized by Gateway Gallery Curator Gari Apolonio in 2021 at the height of the pandemic, Mangha-Likha was initially designed as a national art competition for a tuberculosis campaign.

(L-R) Gari Apolonio, Curator of Gateway Gallery; Exhibit Curator Mary Ann Venturina-Bulanadi; Prof. Felipe de Leon, former NCCA Chairman; Tess Rayos del Sol, Head of National Committee on Art Galleries of NCCA; and Christine Diane Romero, Executive Director, J. Amado Araneta Foundation 

Apolonio and the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, Inc. team applied for it as an art exhibition grant with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Once approved, Apolonio and the Gateway Gallery team worked with Curator Mary Ann Venturina-Bulanadi, Ph.D. to realize the vision of the exhibit.

Bulanadi engaged with the eight selected artists, retrieving their backstories and their artistic vision. With her probing, Bulanadi was able to extract the essence of their art-making and searched for their timeliness and relevance in contemporary society.
(L-R) Curator Mary Ann Venturina-Bulanadi with artists, Tet Aligaen, Percy Denolo, Gilbert Angeles, Sasha Garcia,  Mai De Dios, Marvel Obemio, and Noel Quidlat Jr.

The eight artists, who produced new works solely for the exhibition, include Tet Aligaen, Gilbert Angeles, Mai Pimentel De Dios Percival Denolo, Sasha Garcia, Jordan Bulanit Mang-Osan, Marvel Obemio, and Noel Quidlat. Each artist presents a mini-exhibit of their latest works while presenting their background and story.

Tess Ureta Aligaen is a needlework artist who uses different kinds of fabric with varying patterns and colors using embroidery techniques. Gilbert Calderon Angeles creates eco-paintings using plastic laminates of ground shampoo sachets. Percival Denolo is the mud artist who gained national renown with his Pilipinas Got Talent exposure. Mai Pimentel De Dios uses discarded palochina as her healing canvas, having survived a cancer episode.

Sasha Garcia stitches her life using thread on repurposed fabric. Jordan Mang-Osan, the solar artist, harnesses the power of the sun to create culture-based images from the Cordillera. Marvel Obemio is big on recycling; using pull tabs and other discarded plastics to create intriguing pieces. Noel Quidlat went viral for creating three-dimensional portraits through masking tape and backlight.

Mangha-Likha therefore goes back to the core of what art is and could be. As it combines the marginal and the marginalized in the present environment, the exhibit seeks to relay a strong message on sustainability, inclusivity, equality, solidarity, ecological balance, and recycling, while promoting the values of courage, resilience, determination, resourcefulness, and originality.

The exhibit opened on August 16, 2023 with Guests of Honor Prof. Felipe de Leon, former Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Tess Rayos del Sol, the Head of the National Committee on Art Galleries under NCCA, and Christine Diane Romero, the Executive Director of the J. Amado Araneta Foundation.

Mangha-Lika is supported by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation and runs until September 18, 2023. The Exhibit reach is amplified with a published catalog and a video tour of the Exhibit which will be uploaded soon on the Gateway Gallery YouTube Channel.


July 9, 2023

Philippine Pastel Artists Returns to Gateway Gallery for Kulay Pastel

ALVIN MONTANO, Fallen Leaves

The Philippine Pastel Artists, Inc. group, in partnership with Giftbox, Inc., presents the 2nd Kulay Pastel Juried Exhibition at the Gateway Gallery. As a members-only exhibit, the show aims to recognize new, exceptional works done by the group’s regular members, showcasing their current progress and artistic directions and demonstrating their passion and dedication to the fine art of pastels.
FERDIE MAGSINO, Manay Lisa
-----------------------------------------
WHAT: Kulay Pastel 2nd Juried Exhibition
WHEN: July 15, 2023, 4 PM Opening Reception, exhibit ends on July 29, 2023
WHERE: Gateway Gallery, Level 5 Gateway Tower, Araneta City, Q.C.
------------------------------------------
Founded in 2015, the PPA continues its vision to be a premier and globally-recognized organization promoting Filipino artists through the use of pastels as a medium for artistic expression and setting the standards of excellence in pastel painting in the Philippines. It is a recognized member of the International Association of Pastel Societies, a non-profit organization representing pastel societies worldwide, uniting in the common cause to demonstrate the validity and quality of pastel fine art.


In providing a platform for its members to showcase their creative abilities and skills in pastel artmaking, PPA forges on with its mission to elevate the pastel medium in the art community at large. Awards for the Best in Show and two Awards of Merit to the three most distinguished pieces will be announced at the exhibition’s opening reception on July 15, 2023. The show ends on July 29, 2023.
KARLO DOMINGO, Quiapo

GRANDIER BELLA, Juvenile Playthings

IRIS BABAO-UY, Ilaw ng Tahanan

 JULIUS LEGASPI, Rush Hour

 ROMEO CORTEZ, Bunong-braso

Participating artists are:

Alvin Montano, Bids Llorin-Luna, Caroline Rosales, Dennis Baquial, Ferdie Magsino, Ferdinand Capistrano, Glenn Perez, Grandier Bella, Iris Babao-Uy, Julius Legaspi, Karlo Domingo, Kathy Sarao-Nazario, Luisa Bayot, Nell Belgado, Reina Lynn "Rei" Antonio, Roberto Martin Sing, Rodel Rosario, Roland Castro, Romeo Cortez, Tessa Punzalan-Brodeth, Wendy Rondaris, Yolanda Batara

---------------------------------------------------
Gateway Gallery is the art museum of Araneta City. It is open daily, from 10 am to 6 pm, as a free admission art museum, located at the 5F Gateway Tower, Araneta City. For inquiries on the exhibit and other programs, email us at gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com, or call +63 2 825 3012. Connect also with Gateway Gallery’s social media accounts at Facebook (GatewayGalleryPH), Instagram (gateway.gallery), Twitter (gateway_gallery), and YouTube Channel (Gateway Gallery).
---------------------------------------------------

TESSA PUNZALAN-BRODETH, Sa Tabing Sapa

For inquiries, please contact: 0975-8879651 or email: ppa.kulaypastel@gmail.com.

May 31, 2023

Renaissance XX: Two Decades of Driven Art Direction at SM Megamall Art Center, June 3-28

RENAISSANCE XX, a month-long celebration at the Art Center, SM Megamall 4/L Bldg. A with a collective presentation of the recent works of artists who have previously exhibited in the gallery, either in solo or group shows.

Way back in 2003, a new gallery introduced itself to the Philippine art scene. Christened with the engaging and appropriate name Renaissance – the French word meaning rebirth – the gallery was the brainchild of Manuel and Agnes Romero.

Instantly evoking the names of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance art was a period in European civilization distinguished by Classical learning and wisdom.


Inspired by the original Renaissance, the Romero couple envisioned the revival of the classical version of Philippine modernism in the visual arts, now to be spearheaded by a young emerging generation of Filipino modernist and contemporary artists.

For the next two decades, this avowed mission has been consistently fulfilled, as testified and exemplified by the young artists nurtured by the Renaissance Art Gallery who have all since made their mark in the Philippine art scene.

In celebration of this exemplary achievement, the Renaissance Art Gallery is launching RENAISSANCE XX, a month-long celebration at the Art Center, SM Megamall 4/L Bldg. A with a collective presentation of the recent works of artists who have previously exhibited in the gallery, either in solo or group shows.
Participating artists are: Hermes Alegre, Melbourne Aquino, Max Balatbat, Naomi Banal, Bien Benitez, Gil Bien, Benji Bisaya, Remy Boquiren, Arley Carig, Addie Cukingnan, Egai Fernandez, Sonny Fernando, Irish Galon, Richard “Goma” Gomez, Allain Hablo, Helena, Rick Hernandez, Juan Sajid Imao, Malcolm Infante, Josef Laureano, Alice Atienza-Lee, Marlon Magbanua, Sio Montera, Jayson Pettz Muring, Jonathan Olazo, Sam Penaso, Jay Ragma, Cid Reyes, Genesis Rovero, Aner Sebastian, Resty Tica, Jun Tiongco, Valen Valero, Lydia Velasco, Melissa Villaseñor, Meneline Wong, Janice Young, and Orley Ypon.

The working committee behind RENAISSANCE XX is composed of Curator and Founders Manuel and Agnes Romero, Gallery Manager Margaux Oracion, art critic Cid Reyes, publicist Toots Tolentino, and photographer Jojo Colina.

RENAISSANCE XX will be on view until June 28.

May 24, 2023

Disney’s only licensed Filipino artist stages one-man show in Manila


The Fine Art of Rodel Gonzalez, a Manila Art Show grand exhibition for the first and only Filipino artist officially licensed to paint Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars artworks, finally lands in the Philippines. The exhibition will be held at COLLAB Sheraton Manila Hotel at Newport World Resorts on June 3, 2023 at 5pm. Gonzalez’ grand exhibition follows a string of international sold out shows in the US and Japan. Manila Art Show presents opportunities for the Filipino public, art collectors, and the media to appreciate these works of art up close or even bring home a piece from the collection.

The Manila Art Show of Rodel Gonzalez is presented by Newport World Resorts and Sheraton Manila Hotel. The collection is curated and organized by Kartini Asia Gallery with special participation of Uniquecorn Strategies.

“It is high time that an international Filipino artist, at the caliber of Rodel Gonzalez, becomes well known in this country”, quips Newport World Resorts President and CEO Kingson Sian.

Gonzalez was first accredited by Disney 15 years ago in 2008 to reproduce the media giant’s iconic characters and scenarios through his paintings. Known for his dry-brush technique and having a keen eye for color, form, and composition, his detailed artworks have been sold across Disney Theme Parks, Cruise Lines, and art galleries in Japan, North America, and Europe.

“We are proud that the works of Rodel Gonzalez have found a home within Newport World Resorts,” Sian adds. As a premier lifestyle and entertainment destination, Newport World Resorts champions Filipino artists and the performing arts through various initiatives including the long-running, all-Filipino hit musical “Ang Huling El Bimbo”, a brainchild of Sian’s.




The Manila Art Show will display and auction off over a hundred art pieces featuring popular Star Wars characters Yoda, the Stormtroopers, Darth Vader; Marvel Cinematic Universe fan favorites: Iron Man and Spiderman; and Disney princesses Elsa, Cinderella, and many others. The paintings are done in varying sizes and mediums, such as Acrylic on Black Paper, Acrylic on Canvas, Acrylic on Gesso Board, Oil on Canvas, Oil on Gesso Board, Oil on Aluminum, and Giclee on Canvas.

For inquiries, please contact Ria Malvar at riamalvar@yahoo.com or 09266899014 or 8771717 and Kathryn Joy Jeruta kathryn.jeruta@newportworldresorts.com or 09178728586.


----------------------------------------------
ABOUT RODEL GONZALEZ

Rodel Gonzalez is born into a family of artists, which catalyzed his early exposure to many forms of art through the teachings of his father, Rick Gonzalez, and grandfather, Felix Gonzalez, then both painters. At the age of nine, Gonzalez’s passion for arts began to flourish as he delved into learning its elements and principles. Gonzalez academically reinforced his knowledge of art as he majored in painting at the University of Sto Tomas and earned a degree in Interior Design from the Philippines School of Interior Design.

The artistry he’s been enriching at a young age found its favor in the field of music. In 1985, Gonzalez co-founded the premiere OPM band, Side A, that amassed various hit songs and brought the band to its icon status today. For decades, Gonzalez wielded his creative skills in music as a songwriter and former lead vocalist of the band.

With enthusiasm to establish a more profound way to express art, in 2002 Gonzalez pursued Fine Arts that later put him in an exclusive and international position as a licensed Disney and Lucas Films artist in 2008.

The Manila Art Show of Rodel Gonzalez is presented by Newport World Resorts at COLLAB 2F Sheraton Manila Hotel. The collection is curated and organized by Nina Malvar, President and CEO of Kartini Asia Gallery with special participation of Uniquecorn Strategies. Kartini Asia Gallery is located at the Palms Country Club in Alabang.

May 14, 2022

A festive exhibit amplifying the Filipino spirit

Visual artist and painter Ginny Guanco headlines a long-awaited second solo exhibit entitled “Festival” which formally opens on May 19, 2022 at the Gateway Gallery, Araneta City, Quezon City.
Ginny Guanco with four of her 25-piece collection from the “Festival” series 

It showcases 25 original paintings done in different media which aims to depict the festive spirit and joyous disposition of the Filipino, amidst the most trying situations. Her purpose to relay this positive message is shown through her beautifully and carefully rendered assorted colors and intricately-painted detailed ethnic designs.

Ginny narrates, “The Filipino is by nature, a happy, festive human being. In spite of hardship and many problems in life, Filipinos are able to smile and see the bright side of things. I express these Filipino qualities in the beautiful faces of my paintings, and ethnic designs, tribal costumes and painted faces to prove my point. Filipino resilience is very empowering, whether one is male or female.



This exhibit is 5 years in the making and a fitting follow up to her first solo exhibit back in 2016 with the theme “Boho Chic” as her tribute to bohemian fashion. It took this long to prepare as she encountered many challenges along the way, among which was the onset of the Pandemic where many art stores were temporarily out of operation when she needed to purchase art supplies and materials.

Ginny earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from University of Sto.Tomas and took further studies in drawing, painting and watercolor at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. in the 70s where she won first prize for a nude watercolor painting during a Spring Competition and another first prize in pencil drawing.

Her professional background is also related to art. She taught basic subjects like Freehand Drawing, Color Theory and Art Appreciation at Karilagan Finishing School. She also taught Fashion Illustration and Fine Arts in Slim’s Fashion and Arts School. Then at one time, she changed her career path and became Editor of City Life magazine in Rex Publications, Inc. Her last job was in Public Relations where she worked for several years prior to retirement. And now she has returned to her first love which is Art, doing what she does best and loving every minute of it.

February 16, 2020

Smart brings you the most exquisite Filipino contemporary art at ALT Philippines 2020

After a multitude of reimagined experiences it has brought to its customers, Smart Signature now dares consumers to reimagine the way they see local art. Introducing ALT Philippines 2020, a first-of-its-kind collaborative project among 10 galleries in Manila that aims to not only showcase contemporary Filipino art, but also to reframe the notion of the art show itself.

The landmark art event, which will be held at the SMX Convention Center at SM Aura on February 13 to 16, brings together galleries Artinformal, Blanc, Finale Art File, Galleria Duemila, MO_Space, The Drawing Room, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, West Gallery, and 1335 Mabini. This epic collaboration will result in a showcase of over 150 leading contemporary Filipino artists, in a groundbreaking and dynamic way that involves the immersion of viewers and the engagement of artists and professionals.

“We are truly excited to be part of this momentous event in the local art scene. This is just one of the many ways we provide meaningful connections by bringing subscribers closer to their passions,” said Smart President Alfred S. Panlilio. “Through this, we enable our subscribers to live the life they want, including the kind of life fueled by art.”



Amongst the anticipated highlights at ALT Philippines 2020, is the digital art wall that will be brought to life by artist Derek Tumala. “Derek’s work in collaboration with Smart is a coming together of art and technology. His “Pure Impermanence” 10-channel video in portrait orientation mirrors how we view images on our mobile phones. It represents the endless cycle of experience and image-making through a network of fleeting connections,” according to a statement released by ALT Philippines 2020.


Reimagine the way you see art


Smart subscribers will have the opportunity to freely reimagine the way they see art, as they can avail of exclusive passes to ALT Philippines 2020 as part of the elevated customer experience that Smart provides its valued customers.

With Smart Signature Plans, subscribers can also enjoy the best postpaid and overall experience. Smart Signature affords for its subscribers the capacity to live the life they want because their passions are supported by Smart Signature's bigger data allocation and Smart LTE, the undisputed fastest mobile network in the country, as awarded by third-party organizations such as Ookla, OpenSignal, Tutela, and P3 in their respective crowdsource-based studies on mobile internet services in the Philippines.

But Smart doesn’t stop with data and network speed that customers deserve. Smart also serves perks and privileges to its subscribers, in this case, the levelled-up Signature lifestyle that allows loyal customers to pursue their love for art by getting free tickets and ticket discounts to ALT 2020 Philippines.

To score tickets and discounts to ALT 2020, Smart Postpaid subscribers may submit their entries by answering the question, “What are you looking forward to the most at ALT 2020?” Just go to the comment’s section of Smart’s ALT 2020 ticket giveaway post on Facebook and include the hashtag #SmartALTPH2020.

For more levelled-up love-for-art experiences, follow Smart on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications or @ReimaginePH on Instagram. Keep tabs on the hashtags #Reimagine and #SmartALTPH2020 for more updates as well as ALT Philippines on social media at Alt Philippines on Facebook and @altphilippines on Instagram.

Click on the link for additional event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/222715622076541.

September 18, 2018

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

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/

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
enjoying wonderful world