Epson powers projection mapping installation at the "Art in the Park"

Tweet

The latest edition of ‘Art In The Park’ featured a new, creative installation – a welcome change from the usual paintings and sculptures. Artist Derek Tumala created a ‘light installation’ that made use of projection mapping technology.

‘Polyflora’ -- a mural that plays on the synchronisation of geometry & light derived from the shapes of the plants – made viewers appreciate the distinctive appeal of using projection mapping to create art.

“I was thinking of how I can make an art installation that can be organically weaved into the park's aesthetics. Plants are the main component of the park where Art in the Park is initiated. The idea of creating Polyflora, a sculptural & mural piece, got me inspired on how plants organically form geometric patterns - often in repetition - and how it can form an abstract formation. By applying light through video mapping, it creates a mesmerizing presentation,” said ‘Polyflora’ creator Derek Tumala.

For his inspired installation, Tumala gives credit to the Epson projectors. 

“What's most important for my video mapping project is the quality of light that the projector provides. The Epson projector has excellent brightness that is great for video mapping projection. Details, contrast ratio, and colors are accurate and it transformed the illuminated surface into a mesmerizing piece. The transformative value that projection mapping creates can only be effective with a high quality projector like Epson,” added Tumala.

Derek Tumala was born in Manila in 1986. He received his degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Advertising Arts with distinctions at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila in 2006. He has exhibited his works in galleries and alternative spaces in the Philippines and Singapore from painting, photography, and video mapping installations. Derek’s constant exploration of the digital medium and its technology has led him to his current practice as an emerging multimedia artist that specialises in applying video mapping to sculptures and found objects. He treats video as a form of light which transfigures an object’s state or form, fluidly transforming its spatial nature.

Art in the Park is a project of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines and Philippine Art Events, Inc., in cooperation with Barangay Bel-Air, Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA), Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Smart Communications.

The ninth ‘Art In The Park’ was held at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati. 

This year’s art fair brought together an assortment of 60 art galleries and independent art and student groups, as well as big name artists side-by-side with the soon-to-be knowns.

Malasimbo 2015: A Double Weekend of Festivities- A life-changing adventure

Tweet

MALASIMBO 2015. The festival that combines Music, Arts, Dance, Environment, and Indigenous Culture into one life- changing adventure.

Malasimbo now on it’s 5th year was held in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, host to thousands of music, art, dance and nature lovers.

Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival, considered to be different from all other festivals was held last March 6-8 and the first Malasimbo Lights and Dance Festival on March 13-15, 2015.

With an array of electronic and indie acts, blending traditional & contemporary arts & culture together with music performances while working towards the protection & sustainability of the environment.

Every year, people from all walks of life seek the Malasimbo Magic. The festival continues to grow into a global phenomenon, with more than 5,000 people from over 30 countries in attendance last year.

Malasimbo Music and Arts festival is the official event featured for the month of March on Department of Tourism’s campaign “Visit The Philippines 2015.”

Malasimbo awed the fans in the second weekend (March 13-15) – with a whole new concept. The Malasimbo Lights and Dance Festival, which caters more to the youth with a focus on hip hop, house and electronic music, enhanced with amazing dance performances and state of the art light shows.

Eco-cultural activities

Behind the festivities, eco-cultural preservation is an integral part of the Malasimbo Experience. With The d’Aboville Foundation, the festival promotes mangrove tree planting, the use of solar power, the protection of the endangered Tamaraw in partnership with French organisation Noé Conservation, coastal cleanups, and other ongoing projects within Puerto Galera — member of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World.”

At the heart of Malasimbo is the Mangyan village, where exhibits and workshops showcase their rich culture and beautiful crafts. The demo Mangyan village, built by Mangyan craftsmen in 2010, is a permanent feature of the Malasimbo grounds, and showcases the 7 Mangyan tribes of Mindoro. Each tribe is represented through life-size houses respecting their original architecture.

The Malasimbo brand keeps getting stronger over the years. In 2011, the first Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival became a catalyst for a boom in contemporary festival culture in the Philippines. With its natural amphitheater boasting of coconut trees, grass- terraces, the tropical breeze, coupled with the view of the world famous Puerto Galera Bay, there’s really no other venue like Malasimbo.

The festival weaves music, arts, dance, environment, and indigenous culture into one life- changing adventure.

Visual Arts

The Sculpture Garden at Malasimbo is a witness to the festival’s love for the visual arts. The grounds have been blessed by the beautiful works of talented contemporary artists, mostly Filipino but attracting foreign artists as well. In four years, more than 40 artists including Agnes Arellano, Wawi Navarroza, Ling Quisumbing Ramilo and Leeroy New, have used the venue as their canvas for their art installations.

As the 5th Anniversary special, over 30 artists will showcase their works. Whether permanent or degradable, loud or discreet, phantasmagoric or natural, interactive or silent, the works all have a synergy with the mountain, the landscape, the wind, the ocean or the festival’s creative energy.

Entertainment

Known for quality sound, the Malasimbo Amphitheater is praised by musicians and music lovers. The many acts that have played, including living legends Jimmy Cliff, Roy Ayers, Joe Bataan, Joss Stone, Robert Glasper and Jose Gonzalez, were entranced by the beauty and energy of the place. The stage is also abundant with local talent hailing from the different parts of the Philippines. It has become a platform where collaboration between international and homegrown music can ring around the island.

On March 6-8, Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival scheduled to attract its loyal attendees from all over the world, excited to listen to Ky- Mani Marley, son of legendary reggae artist Bob Marley. The international lineup also includes Fred Wesley and the New J.B.s, led by the former band director of iconic artist James Brown, the Godfather of soul and funk music. Taylor McFerrin, son of popular vocalist Bobby (“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”) McFerrin is a Brooklyn-based DJ, producer, keyboardist and beatboxer that released his debut album, Early Riser on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder record label.

More artists, both local and international, are completing the exciting lineup: French Kiwi Juice (France), GOCOO + GORO (Japan) Taiko Drum Band, our own Brigada, Noli Aurillo, Akasha, Bleu Rascals, Adinkra Lumads Djembe Community, Crwn, and many more to be announced soon!

New attractions

Exciting additions during the 5th Anniversary celebration— Malasimbo pulls neighbouring cities (Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao and Boracay) closer; Malasimbo at parties up-the-ante for festival-day-programs, and in between the two weekends— Malasimbo stay alive hosting activities for Puerto Galera’s local community.

The Malasimbo Festival is an experience-driven event— regardless of the lineup of acts, one is e an unforgettable time. The biggest headliner in Malasimbo is Malasimbo, and for those who seek culture, adventure, and magic, this is the place for new discoveries. 

Partners

Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival wouldn’t be possible if not for our major sponsors and partners Ipanema, VISA, Department of Tourism, Ticketworld, Stage Craft, Fox International Channels Asia, Yahoo Philippines, Grid Magazine, Mabuhay Magazine, Scout Magazine, ABS-CBN Publishing Inc., Metro Society and Metro.

5th Anniversary Special: Malasimbo Lights and Dance Festival

In an industry where sustainable development is at times overlooked, Malasimbo Festival has proven to be a solid name to stay for decades, which will continue giving innovation and quality entertainment to its loyal fans and its organically- growing audience. In celebration of the 5th Anniversary, the Malasimbo family proudly introduces an entirely new concept that is already creating a buzz with the youth: The Malasimbo Lights & Dance Festival, set on March 13-15.

Why two weekends?

Malasimbo Festival hosts more than 5,000 people from over 30 countries. Having a 10-day affair encourages international tourists to stay at least 10 days in Mindoro and the Philippines. This further activates Malasimbo’s eco- cultural tourism efforts, and allows tourists to fully discover all of the amazing activities & sights the Philippines have to offer.

At the rate of Malasimbo Festival’s growth parallel to Puerto Galera’s limited accommodating capacity, creating a 2nd weekend and ultimately longer Malasimbo Experience helps maintain convenience for our audience and gives local tourism a greater return. We have a capped capacity and we want to ensure safety for all.

The Malasimbo Lights & Dance Festival caters to a specifically targeted market – the millenials – and offers an immersive feast of state-of-the- art light shows enhanced with contemporary and traditional dance performances, full- circled with hip hop, house and electronic music that is most relevant to the youth of today.

Performing acts

Dance organizations are given a prime spot at the festival in celebration of the 5th Anniversary: Philippine All Stars, Planet Zips Luminaries, Daloy Dance Company and more who graced the Malasimbo stage.

Quality music is, of course, another key element of the Malasimbo Lights & Dance Festival. A talented selection of DJs, both local and international, is guaranteed to make you dance all night. DJ Kentaro, DJ Mitsu the Beats, To-Ru, HiFaNa, and Tetsuji Tanaka & MC Cardz are flying in straight from Japan, accompanied by many great acts: Swindle (UK), Manolet Dario, Mikail, Br3aking Silence, Emel Rowe, and Lyrically Deranged Poets to bring Philippines’ finest in hip hop today; many more notable acts performed.

Partners

Malasimbo Lights & Dance Festival is a collaboration between Malasimbo Productions and Japan’s BassCamp festival run by Dj Kentaro. For this, the Malasimbo family thanks our Japanese partners Groundstar+, Basscamp, Asia Unite, and GOJA Cafe. Malasimbo Lights and Dance Festival wouldn’t be possible without our other major sponsors: Ipanema, Ticketworld, Stage Craft, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotion Board, Fox International Channels Asia, Yahoo Philippines, Grid Magazine, Mabuhay Magazine, Meg, Scout Magazine, and ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc., Chalk, Metro.

Party high-up in the mountains for Malasimbo’s 5th anniversary double weekend special!

As we celebrate MUSIC, ARTS and NATURE at Malasimbo Festival, there is so much to see and explore in the tropical paradise. Indeed, it is more fun in the Philippines!

Visit http://www.malasimbo. com for further information. Twitter: @malasimbofest 

For inquiries contact info@ malasimbofestival.com

Roberto S. Bonifacio’s “My World, My Emotions”

Tweet

Welcome to Roberto S. Bonifacio’s “My World, My Emotions”

By Cid Reyes

A first solo exhibition is always a momentous occasion for an artist. That is a truism as true as the statement that “the first time is always the most memorable.” A solo show is an artist’s formal bow to the art community. An artistic debut, it is an official entry into the exciting and competitive art scene, worthy to be listed in the historical registry of contemporary Philippine art. To be sure, an artist may have participated in several group shows, but such does not have the same impact on the public consciousness as a one-man exhibition, which signals a variety of messages: the artist’s commitment to his art, his readiness and courage to face criticism, and of course, to receive a deserved applause and acclamation. For once an artist’s works are hung for public viewing, he is literally on his own.

Young and eager, driven and determined, the 21 year-old Roberto S. Bonifacio is all set and raring to launch his initial solo show. The venue could not have been more apt: the Renaissance Art Gallery. A rebirth, albeit of the aesthetic kind, is exactly what Bonifacio has experienced with his discovery of a life’s passion. Despite a diagnosis of autism, or precisely, providentially, because of it, the artist in him has victoriously emerged, even as he had immersed himself since childhood in the wondrous world of art. With the full support of his parents and siblings, Bonifacio is now ready to take center stage.

The title which Bonifacio has bestowed on his show is heartfelt and personal: “My World, My Emotions.” A prolific artist, whose enthusiasm for artmaking seems unbounded, he is displaying over fifty works that are the rich evocations of his visions and emotions. A combined spirit of playfulness and seriousness brought these works into fruition, engaging him to share with his audience the innermost recesses of his mind.

The harvest of works is impressive, ranging across themes and formats as varied as portraits, still lifes, landscapes, flowers, nudes, animals, religious subjects, Madonna and Child, surrealist fantasy, Pinoy Pop narratives and Pop Americana, and more predominantly, famous landmark sights in the U.S., Asia, and Europe.

Ultimately, what is touching and felicitous about these works is the overflow of memories that impelled them to come to artistic life. They are visual reveries on canvas, and whether the subjects of the portraits are still among the living or the departed, Bonifacio has rendered to them a worthy homage. “My Beloved Mother” is a sweet valentine replete with hearts, flowers and gifts. A smiling “Portrait of my Father” conveys at once amiability and inner strength. Other portraits of grandparents, friends, teachers, and relatives brim with joy, with no diminution of affection, as Bonifacio has interiorized his feelings for his subjects. 

Certain to leave a smile on the audience are his portraits of two beloved religious leaders, Pope Francis and Luis Cardinal Tagle, themselves aglow with their own robust smiles. With their images captured on canvas, they seem to reside in emotional areas of the senses, other than the eyes.

Bonifacio’s still lifes are gustatory delights (cupcakes, pies, pizza and pasta, pastries, fruits and wine, tea and coffee) or common objects (stuffed toys, barbells, running shoes). The artist deploys multiple figures within the strict confines of the canvas, in works such as “Seven Guardian Fairies” perched on the branches of a tree, “Band of Brothers”, “Four Prettiest Ladies from Kalayaan”, “Anime Magical Girls”, “Four Boys Crossing the Zigzag”, which brings to mind the Beatles, barefooted, crossing Abbey Road, and “Three Nude Girls at the Waterfalls During Winter Dusk.” Bonifacio revels in repetition, in serial imagery that intensifies the human presence.

Pop Americana, surely an imprint of the artist’s many travels to the U.S., is another abiding memory, both as holiday and personal history, and shows Bonifacio’s grasp of the American social scene, as depicted in “Cowboy and nagtive American” and “Wahine at San Juan Beach.” On the other hand, Pinoy Pop (or what some derisively label as “baduy”) is markedly visible in “Videoke Queen”, displaying a heavily tattoo’d arm while lustily singing, most likely, Abba’s “Dancing Queen.” Irreverent as it may be, some quarters regard the twin images of the Jesus and Mama Mary, etched on ceramic tiles and plastered often on high-end residential gates, as Pinoy Pop. Such did not escape Bonifacio’s astute, observant eyes. A single surreal touch is gleaned in “Look Out Below! Be Safe from the Giantess”, as a roped mountaineer finds himself descending not from the boulders of the Grand Canyon, but from a humongous profiled nose.

The greater number of works, however, are famous touristic landmarks, for which it is deemed wisely to remember the remark: “A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it” (George A. Moore). In his own country, Bonifacio had once set forth on a journey to the Ilocos, and from that experience, produced a cache of works that depicted Vigan’s century old houses and cobble-stoned streets, the deep-purpled dragon fruit, the earthen pottery, and the Ilocano’s version of empanada. From travels abroad, he created a veritable visual diary: New York and the Statue of Liberty, Paris and the Eiffel Tower, Pisa and the Leaning Tower, Bangkok’s Buddhist temples swathed in gold, Cambodia and its ancient Angkor Wat, Moscow and its onion-domed cathedrals and Russian dolls. Corollary to the theme of travel is a fetching self-portrait of Bonifacio, viewed from the back of a bench where the artist is seated, a luggage by his feet. The title is obvious enough: “Eager to Go Home.”

Thence did Roberto S. Bonifacio pack up and go home, assured with a wealth of memories, stuffed in his heart and mind. He knew even then that he was in possession of precious images which would constitute his authentic world and his shared emotions, which he was determined to render with fidelity on the many canvases that awaited him, indeed for that fast approaching first solo exhibition.

 

'Wanderlust' photography exhibition at Water Dragon Gallery

Tweet

"Branching Out"

Writer/ curator Giselle P. Kasilag combines her twin passions for travel and photography in her first solo exhibition dubbed "Wanderlust: Windows to Asia." Featuring 40 photographs, the exhibit opens on November 13, 2014 -- which is also Kasilag's 40th birthday -- at the Water Dragon Gallery of the Yuchengco Museum.

"Master and Commander"

"Wanderlust" showcases photographs Kasilag has taken on her trips to various places in Asia, including South Korea, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines. Her favorite subjects include architecture, especially windows and staircases, as well as street scenes and nature views.

"I like anything that can serve as a portal into another world. I enjoy it when I come across things that are different but still strangely familiar, or so familiar but vaguely different," says Kasilag.

Through her photographs, she hopes others can join her in discovering the extraordinary in the everyday.

Kasilag became a journalist because she wanted to be the person who visits far-off places and gets to write about them for other people's benefit. Back then, she would find herself in a different Philippine city almost every weekend, listing down names of places she could barely pronounce and trying out every food and activity that each one offered. 

"Sign in Blue"

For her, wandering became a career. 

In recent years, she rediscovered her love affair with the camera which provided her with the best excuse to travel. Her photographs were shown in New York as part of the 2013 event entitled "The Story of Creative." Another piece was projected onto the side of a building in Long Island as part of the "Creatives Rising" event held in the same year. In July 2014, her photograph was shown on electronic billboards covering an entire building in Times Square, New York. 

"Pigeonhole"

When not taking photographs or travelling, Kasilag produces and curates exhibits for Project Art, a company she co-owns and runs. She also writes for different publications. 

"Spiral Orange"

The Yuchengco Museum is located at the RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. For inquiries, call (+632) 889-1234 or (+63)917-5631008.)

Valen Valero: When “Electric Dreams” Become Reality

Tweet

“The Thinker”
Valen Valero

“Since I had worked in factories and made parts of automobiles and had worked on telephone lines, I saw a chance to make a sculpture in a tradition I was already rooted in.” --- David Smith 

Those words were said by the American sculptor David Smith (1906-1965), who was a pioneer in abstract and geometric sculpture, inspired by the works of Picasso and Julio Gonzalez, who became progenitors of the so-called assemblage, or sculpture made from various unrelated materials.

The idea of working in a tradition in which an artist is alred “rooted in” comes to mind with the 7^th solo show of Valen Valero, now on view at Renaissance Art Gallery. One might say that the scumptural roots of Valero grew in the fertile soil of the family business. The Valeros are engaged in electricity distribution, managing the La Union Electric Company, which serves the threr towns of La Union, San Juan, and Bauang. The young artist thus grew up with an encompassing awareness of the presence and value of electricity.

Not surprising then that this show should be titled, and appropriately so, “Electric Dreams.” Valero presents free-standing and wall sculptures, paintings, and chairs, which are all imbued with an imagination fired as it were by the concept of electricity. Making its striking appearance and presence is the ubiquitous electric meter, or what we call “contador.” A recording instrument of the electricity consumed, it transcends its functional role and assumes guises that lend unexpected surrealist tones. Like a previously palpitating heart, it now lies, or hangs, inert within the jazzy and jangly sculptural configurations of Valero.

The free-standing works, “The Thinker” and “Electro Chemistry” are, to my mind, stand-outs. With the sculptor’s playful but logistical engagement with her materials, the viewer immediately senses the empathy generated by the works’ references. “The Thinker” is, as must be known to is an homage to the famous bronze work of the French sculptor Rodin, A skulking over-life size figure of a naked man, deep in thought, it was originally conceived as part of Rodin’s “Gates of Hell,” a sculptural narrative of Dante’s Inferno. In Valero’s own rendition of the subject, she assembles various fragments of industrial materials, steely and metallic grids and lattices and spangled wires, locked together, emblematic of a human figure. The use of such materials – which one American sculptor graphically described as “defeated” – derives from the practice of the art movement known as “arte povera” or impoverished art. A more dignified term that has been used is “non-privileged” materials such as wood, paper, rags and stones. Again, like her subject, Valero has done her own serious thinking how best to animate her materials. In a witty gesture, she has seen fit to append a shelf for coffeetable books, essential food for thought for “The Thinker.”

The sculpture “Electro Chemistry”, on the other hand, suggests an ironing board, with sly overtones of electric consumption generated by the presence of an electric meter. It conveys an authentic sense of domesticity, itself a theme loaded with controversial implications. Painted in sleek black, red, and white, the electric meter this time looms less like a heart than a cranium or skull, the brain recording and registering dark, diurnal activities.

Wall sculptures or reliefs, such as “Voltage,” “Magnetic Flux,” and “Electric Dreams” employ the collage technique, whether of planes of wood or layers of metal grids. The result is always an equilibrium of tension and repose, balance and asymmetry, with enough improvisatory panache as to constitute a well-integrated piece.

By her own admission, Valero has always been fascinated by chairs. As an object, it is of enduring interest. As such, it would serve us well to assess this piece of furniture so common as to elude its significance. 

In the book on the subject, authored by Judith Miller, we read: “In Western culture the definition of a chair is a seat with a back designed for a single person. This differentiates it from a stool, which is backless, and also from benches, settees and other forms of elongated seating intended to support more than one individual. Chairs are invariably raised above the ground, usually but not always on legs, and are also movable.” In this show, Valero creates both chairs and stool, uniquely invested with her flowing “appliques” consisting of fabric inscribed with the strangely intriguing conflation of a multitude of congested alphabets and numbers, intentionally unreadable and blending into a blur.

Interestingly, the Miller book carries a foreword by the famed designer Terence Conran, which is precisely addressed to designers like Valero: “Chairs are not just for sitting on, and many are diabolically uncomfortable because their designers have ignored the basic principles of ergonomics. To me this is unintelligent design. A lot of chairs have become indoor sculpture, and in many cases the architects who have designed them have promoted their brand through the design of their chairs – for example, Corbusier, Saarinen, Eames, Alvar Aalto, Gio Ponti, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and Mies van der Rohe. Sometimes I think that you are unlikely to be a successful architect or designer unless you have designed a classic chair.” The public is now invited to judge if Valero has created her own classic chair. Please take your seat.

Valero is what one may call “an accidental artist.” Though she has always painted as a hobby, her first interest was the culinary arts. She graduated with a degree in Food Technology at the O.B. Montessori College. But by a “brushstroke” of luck, a friend once saw her paintings, liked them, and was able to sell them. She took active part in joining many group exhibitions. In 2012, she even took up art studies at the famed Art Students League in New York.

 On this her 7^th solo show, Valen Valero’s “electric dreams” have become a reality.

Valen Valero: When “Electric Dreams” Become Reality By Cid Reyes

A trip around the world with PSID’s “Globalscapes”

Tweet

“Foreign lands never yield their secrets to a traveller. The best they offer are tantalising snippets, just enough to inflame the imagination. The secrets they do reveal are your own - the ones you have kept from yourself. And this is reason enough to travel, to leave home.” 

― Graeme Sparkes

Travel and have a journey to learn so much, from art and architecture to local customs to even spirituality, all while having fun. Every country has something very unique to offer visitors. 

Now, you can now go around the world while you are marveling at exquisitely-designed spaces for free.

Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) Advanced Class of 2014 holds “Globalscapes”, a graduation exhibit running from Oct. 1-31 at the Super Sale Hall of SM North EDSA, Quezon City.

On the 47th year of PSID, this year’s exhibit showcases 22 exquisitely-designed spaces that showcase the beauty and cultural richness across six continents. The students not only took into account their assigned country’s culture but also basic design principles and ergonomics.

“What we want visitors to the exhibit to feel is that they have traveled around the world. At the same time, we want them to get to know a country through our exhibit,” says PSID Advanced Class of 2014 advisor Nicky Jardenil.

PSID Exhibit Egypt 

The exhibit is divided into different continents. One of the booths in the Africa section is Egypt, an elegant kitchen design by Michelle Almanzor, Pamela Carunungan, Samantha Flores, Patrice Huang, and Christinne Maron featuring the black and gold motif of luxurious Egyptian temples. The booth features pyramid-shaped lighting with settings for cooking and entertaining, marble countertops and island, custom-designed seating inspired by the Egyptian klismos chair, and a fully-stocked wine cellar. The kitchen also features clever and practical storage solutions such as a cabinet in the kitchen columns, a built-in cabinet for pet bowls, and Press Memory cabinets and drawers that open with just a slight push.

Also featured in the African section is the South Africa dining room by Jasmine Bullecer, Paola Engracia, Michael Go, Felix Guerra, Nydia Ochoa, and Dana Uy that incorporates safari culture and Ndebele art. There’s also Kenya, a design for a living room by Cat Arambulo-Antonio, Myrrh Astrid Cortes, Kim Tan, Janis Tesoro, Kady Robles, and Sharlene Yu that takes inspiration from the kraal, the traditional houses of the Maasai tribe.

PSID Exhibit Turkey

Meanwhile, Turkey’s famous baths and mix of East and West are interpreted into a lovely Hagia Sophia-inspired bathroom space by Vitoy Bernabaye, Lauren Chua, Shirley Chua, Tina Mendoza, and Daphne Ong. The space features a walk-through layout, a luxurious tub area , and a mix of Christian and Muslim design elements.

“Turkey is the only country that’s both in Europe and Asia, so we wanted to combine design elements from East and West. To us, there was no better place to look for inspiration than the Hagia Sophia,” says group member Vitoy Bernabaye.

PSID Exhibit USA

The vibrant culture of the Americans also comes to life at the PSID exhibit. Ann Chua, Czarina Indigne, Arata Kobayashi, and Valerie San Antonio do an unexpected take on the USA through a kitchen design that incorporates Native American design elements, particularly that of the Lakota tribe. Their main inspiration is the dreamcatcher, a motif seen in the dreamcatcher-shaped ceiling and the twig-inspired chandelier. The kitchen is also painted in a bold mustard shade common in Native American cultures and an incorporation of Native American symbolism.

Other booths include South Africa dining room by Jasmine Bullecer, Paola Engracia, Michael Go, Felix Guerra, Nydia Ochoa, and Dana Uy that incorporates safari culture and Ndebele art. There’s also Kenya, a design for a living room by Cat Arambulo-Antonio, Myrrh Astrid Cortes, Kim Tan, Janis Tesoro, Kady Robles, and Sharlene Yu that takes inspiration from the kraal, the traditional houses of the Maasai tribe.

PSID Exhibit Japan 

In the Asia section are India by Josh Celiz, Janelle Edquiban, Rolini Pineda, Krizsha Soriano, and Cat Yao, a den design that incorporates traditional Indian design elements such as arches and a peacock chair; Cambodia by Ericka Dizon, Mariel Eseque, Hannah Lomibao, Angel Marquez, Patricia Morato, and Allen Sadsad, a design for a modern lanai taking inspiration from the Mekong River, and Japan by Jenina Cabiltes, Janine Cam, Sandy Dong, Sheena Dy, and Rhejayne Tan, a modern take on the traditional Japanese dining space inspired by crane’s nests found in the Japanese grasslands.

PSID Exhibit Russsia

Meanwhile, Europe is represented by Russia by Kaye de Jesus, IC Encinas, Rhia Flordeliza, Tony Lim, and Lesly Yiu, a kitchen design inspired by different periods of Russian art and architecture; Sweden by Lotus Cantillas, Karl Hansley Carlos, Donna Dychinco, Julienne Mae Go, and Angeluz Millano, a modern bedroom design that combines clean, functional Scandinavian aesthetics with architectural elements from Sweden’s famous landmarks; 

PSID Exhibit Spain 

Spain by Rhum Bonsol, Jericko Isidro, and Rusheen Velasco, a unique bathroom design inspired by the flamenco dance and with a combination of rustic colonial elements and a contemporary look; Italy by Anna Bardillon, Angela Bugayong, Jeanne Gumangan, MJ Pascasio, and Trish Garcia, a study room that gives a more global, cosmopolitan feel to traditional Italian design; Greece by Suzette Co, Camille Depano, Miguel Fedillaga, Amanda Ngo, and Tom Regis, a lanai design featuring a geometric vertical garden, a rich color palette of blues and golds; United Kingdom by Carlo Canto, Ann Bernadette Gabato, Marina Nicole Manuzon, and Kristine Lei Salarda, a modern living room design inspired by the country’s capital and top tourist destination: London; and Czech Republic by Natalia Alegre, Alexandra Esguerra, Kim So Hyun, Gabrielle Racelis, and Dea Carina Sy, a dining room design inspired by two of the Czech Republic’s most popular tourist attractions, beer festivals and castles.

PSID Exhibit Australia 

Lastly, Australia by Donae Edusada, Kat Morales, and Sasa Rodriguez, is a living room design that combines modern tropical architecture elements with Australian Aboriginal culture. It features the use of different textures concrete, a sustainable design technique common in Australia.

Here are more PSID Exhibit 2014

PSID Exhibit South Africa 

South Africa by Jasmine Bullecer, Paola Engracia, Michael Go, Felix Guerra, Nydia Ochoa, and Dana Uy. A dining room design inspired by safaris and Ndebele art featuring a geometric wall pattern made of wood and leather, an antler-inspired custom dining table, and a warm color palette. 

PSID Exhibit Kenya 

Kenya by Cat Arambulo-Antonio, Myrrh Astrid Cortes, Kim Tan, Janis Tesoro, Kady Robles, and Sharlene Yu. A modern living room design inspired by the kraal, the traditional hut of the Maasai tribe of Kenya. The space features a warm color palette to represent the African Safari landscape and a mix of original African accessories and local materials 

PSID Exhibit Egypt 

Egypt by Michelle Almanzor, Pamela Carunungan, Samantha Flores, Patrice Huang, and Christinne Maron. A modern kitchen design that incorporates design elements from the age of the Pharoahs featuring a black and gold color palette, a sumptuously lighted wine cellar,stone flooring and countertops, and copper-toned kitchen accessories. 

PSID Exhibit UAE 

United Arab Emirates by Akai Aquino, Kath Briones, Anj Jardiniano, Shai Ramos, and Mika Villarosa. A contemporary bedroom design that mixes traditional Islamic and Emirati design elements such as the use of date palm tree symbol, intricate patterns, and rich colors with modern furniture. The focal point is the circular bed area. 

PSID Exhibit Turkey 

Turkey by Vitoy Bernabaye, Lauren Chua, Shirley Chua, Tina Mendoza, and Daphne Ong. A Hagia Sophia-inspired bathroom design that mixes European and Asian design elements and features a domed ceiling over the tub area and Islamic-inspired minarets.

PSID Exhibit India 

India by Josh Celiz, Janelle Edquiban, Rolini Pineda, Krizsha Soriano, and Cat Yao. A design for a den that incorporates traditional Indian design elements such as arches and a peacock chair. Window seat niches and the color palette give the room a more contemporary twist.

PSID Exhibit Cambodia 

Cambodia by Ericka Dizon, Mariel Eseque, Hannah Lomibao, Angel Marquez, Patricia Morato, and Allen Sadsad. A design for a lanai that takes inspiration from Cambodia’s Mekong River, as well as from the fountains found in many Cambodian Buddhist temples. The central feature is a fountain that also provides a relaxing sound to the lanai.

PSID Exhibit Philippines 

Philippines by Terrence Chua, Gabrielle Gianan, Ranier Lucero, Andres See, and Kenneth So. A contemporary, airy, fluid take on the Filipino living room set, the sala. The design features the okir pattern of the Torogon House of datus, as well as traditional weaving patterns, and combines indigenous materials such as rattan and capiz with glass, steel, and concrete.

PSID Exhibit Japan 

Japan by Jenina Cabiltes, Janine Cam, Sandy Dong, Sheena Dy, and Rhejayne Tan. A contemporary take on the traditional Japanese dining space inspired by crane’s nests found in the Japanese grasslands. The design incorporates elements such as wood and stone and features a low dining table set with seats and a dynamic unparalleled ceiling. 

PSID Exhibit Russia 

Russia by Kaye de Jesus, IC Encinas, Rhia Flordeliza, Tony Lim, and Lesly Yiu. A design for a kitchen inspired by different periods of Russian art and architecture featuring a Khokhloma-inspired ceiling design, Faberge-egg inspired splashboards, and metallic-gold accented cabinets.

PSID Exhibit Sweden 

Sweden by Lotus Cantillas, Karl Hansley Carlos, Donna Dychinco, Julienne Mae Go, and Angeluz Millano. A contemporary bathroom design that combines clean, functional Scandinavian aesthetics with architectural elements from Sweden’s famous landmarks. The main feature is the ceiling design inspired by the Aurora Borealis. 

PSID Exhibit Spain 

Spain by Rhum Bonsol, Jericko Isidro, and Rusheen Velasco. A unique bathroom design inspired by the flamenco dance and with a combination of rustic colonial elements and a contemporary look. The main feature is the shower area which showcases the flowing lines of the dance.

PSID Exhibit Italy 

Italy by Anna Bardillon, Angela Bugayong, Jeanne Gumangan, MJ Pascasio, and Trish Garcia. A design for a study room that gives a more global, cosmopolitan feel to traditional Italian design with wrought-iron chandeliers, wood flooring, marble tiles, glass cabinets, and ingenious storage solutions. 

PSID Exhibit Greece 

Greece by Suzette Co, Camille Depano, Miguel Fedillaga, Amanda Ngo, and Tom Regis. A refreshing lanai design featuring a geometric vertical garden, a rich color palette of blues and golds, and a plush seating area. 

PSID Exhibit United Kingdom 

United Kingdom by Carlo Canto, Ann Bernadette Gabato, Marina Nicole Manuzon, and Kristine Lei Salarda. A modern living room design inspired by the country’s capital and top tourist destination: London featuring a red double-decker bus inspired sitting area, as well as other elements inspired by famous London icons. 

PSID Exhibit Czech Republic 

Czech Republic by Natalia Alegre, Alexandra Esguerra, Kim So Hyun, Gabrielle Racelis, and Dea Carina Sy. A dining room design inspired by two of the Czech Republic’s most popular tourist attractions, beer festivals and castles, and features a bar area. The room uses brick, glass, and porcelain and utilizes the colors of the Czech flag. 

PSID Exhibit USA 

USA by Ann Chua, Czarina Indigne, Arata Kobayashi, and Valerie San Antonio. A kitchen design that incorporates Native American culture through design elements such as a dreamcatcher-inspired ceiling design, geometric patterns reminiscent of a teepee, and a color palette of mustard, browns, and teal. 

PSID Exhibit Mexico 

Mexico by Janina Cabansag, Julia Cristobal, Erika Hernandez, Maxine Medina, Roanna Padilla, and Armi Piamonte. An eclectic bedroom design that incorporates Mayan tribal patterns, Mexican tile and fabrics, rustic finishes, and a rich color palette with modern furniture and a contemporary ceiling design inspired by Mexican costumes. 

PSID Exhibit Cuba 

Cuba by Carina Bustamante, France Delfin, Natalie Miranda, and Rachel Enaje. A bathroom design that infuses Latin design elements and is inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”. The room features calm colors, undulating lines, columns, grillwork, and floral patterns. 

PSID Exhibit Peru 

Peru by Jairus Bañares, Kun Qian Cai, Farida Presquito, and Erlyz Santos. A design for a den or study inspired by Peru’s Festival of the Sun and featuring a sofa set of different fabrics and colors, a vibrant mini-office or study area, and modern furniture. 

PSID Exhibit Brazil

Brazil by Jerlyn de Asis, Bebette Javier, Maricel Padrique, and Deena Sheikh Al Ghannameh. A lanai design that pays homage to Brazil’s national sport and favorite pastime: soccer. The entire space is encased in a soccer ball-shaped dome and incorporates tropical plants and a color palette of Brazil’s flag. 

PSID Exhibit Australia 

Australia by Donae Edusada, Kat Morales, and Sasa Rodriguez. A living room design that combines modern tropical architecture elements with Australian Aboriginal culture featuring geometric wood furniture, Indigenous Australian art-inspired wall treatments, and a clean color palette.