Redefining contemporary art

The 2012 Thirteen Artists Award lists a good mix of uniquely different artists, with different background and inspirations. But their being different from one another earned them a slot in a group exhibition on Oct. 18 at The Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Lighting up the Cultural Center of the Philippines

by Nickie Wang

Adorning the iconic façade of Cultural Center of the Philippines with white Christmas lanterns has been an annual tradition since 2001. People passing by the busy Roxas Boulevard have been enthralled by the meteor-like decors that seem to shower the lawn of the complex.

Newsmakers: 10 Trending Searches on Yahoo! Philippines from August 8 to 14

1. Cultural Center of the Philippines: The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is being criticized for housing the controversial Kulo art exhibit which includes Mideo Cruz’ mixed-media collage, Poletismo. The exhibition features election campaign posters, photos of national heroes and movie idols, religious images with condoms and Jesus Christ with a movable wooden penis. The CCP eventually closed down following a public outrage and vandalism.

Cultural Center of the Philippines to showcase diverse range of artistic events

by Nickie Wang

The year 2010 was a great year for the Cultural Center of the Philippines amid curtailed budget. Its resident companies were still consistent in the quality of their performances. For this year, at the annual press appreciation lunch held on Jan. 19, key people behind the institution were delighted to announce additional activities that center in promoting and preserving Filipino arts and culture.

A passion for curves

by Nickie Wang

Each culture develops its own concept of beauty but over the years a significant proportion has begun considering Barbie as the ideal standard of female splendor. It will take generations, or even forever, to change this general perception.

To metal sculptor Daniel dela Cruz, every woman has her own distinct beauty and he depicts it in a creatively different way. His statues and body of work flatter voluptuous figure: women with big bosom and robust thighs. It has been his signature style since he started using malleable materials two decades ago.

“These figures are inspired by my wife,” he giggles pointing his fingers to some of his artworks, “But I am the reference,” he laughs while rubbing his tummy.

A different side of Piolo Pascual

By Nickie Wang

Piolo Pascual has about 300,000 photos in his computer. He has accumulated that amount of still pictures using a digital camera he takes with him whenever he goes on a trip around or out of the country. Yes, the guy loves staying behind the camera to take some awesome shots that capture his adventure, his emotion, and point of view.

Life begins anew as CCP turns 40

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

Along Roxas Boulevard lies one of the country’s greatest treasures. It has been the symbol of Filipino ingenuity, a venue that showcases incomparable local talents, a catalyst for a major leap in cultural development and preservation, and the world’s window to the Philippines as the Asia’s Mecca of culture and the arts.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines, or just CCP to many, marks its 40th anniversary with a year-round celebration that will feature special performances and events. Some of the most talented and well-known artists and performing arts groups will gather together for the celebration.

“The CCP has been the home of the most outstanding performing arts groups in the country. For the last four decades it has helped discover, nurture and support Filipino artists. I think that’s one of the major achievements of the CCP,” president and artistic director Nestor Jardin said during a press conference that unveiled the roster of events prepared by his staff.

The calendar of activities starts with the grand public launch of the 40th Anniversary Celebration tomorrow, Feb. 1, during the annual CCP Pasinaya Open House Festival that coincides with National Arts Month.

Opening salvo

Highlighting the anniversary is the first chunk of activities that will revolve around the fact that the CCP for the last four decades has helped discover, nurture, and support Filipino artists.

“The whole celebration is built around activities that will not only be celebratory but activities that will help the Filipino public recall what is CCP’s role now in the society, and what was its work in the past,” Jardin enthused.

For initial offering, Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino restages the comedy musical Zsa Zsa Zaturna (Ze MuZikal) from Feb. 3 to 8. On the same week (Feb. 6 to 8), a showcase of the country’s dance groups in folk, ballet, contemporary, and street dance will  entertain the public with series of motion and steps in a dance gala entitled Turning… Turning 40 at the Main Theater.

Just outside the main theater, a projection bombing light and sound spectacle at the façade of the CCP building will show the latest outstanding works in animation and graphic arts. This display dubbed Skin will take place on the night of Feb. 7.

On Feb. 13, as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra marks its sixth season concert, a grand musical extravaganza called Gabi ng Musikang Pilipino: A Rendezvous with National Artists at the Main Theater will be staged featuring the works of Filipino National Artists like Felipe de Leon, Antonino Buenaventura, Lucrecia Kasilag, and Lucio San Pedro.

From Feb. 19 till the end of March, the different venues at the CCP will witness an array of different performances, musical, concerts, drama and exhibits that celebrate the excellence and accomplishments of Filipino artists in different fields.

Tribute to Imelda

Formally inaugurated on Sep. 8, 1969, the CCP was the brainchild of then First Lady Imelda Marcos, and as the institution celebrates 40 years of fruitful years, an Imeldific tribute will be dedicated especially to honor the visionary woman who created it.

“You cannot ignore the fact that this was her vision, this was her idea. We’re looking at it from an institutional point of view. For this year we’re not only inviting her, we’re paying her a tribute,” Jardin told the press during an open forum held inside the Main Theater.

Jardin announced that the special tribute is slated on Sept. 8. It will be a whole day event capped by an eight o’ clock gala at the Main Theater. On Sept. 11, the special tribute will continue featuring the artists whom Mrs. Marcos supported in the past.

New logo

With a new logo that still symbolizes katotohanan (truth), kagandahan (beauty) and kabutihan (goodness), a new representation has been introduced that depicts CPP’s transformation from small stones to strong boulders that anchor and support excellence in arts and music in the country within the past four decades. The logo bares the new slogan, “Life Begins Anew.”

“When we were having, I think Christmas mass or another anniversary mass, our parish priest congratulated us on our 40th anniversary and said that when we celebrate milestone anniversaries we should always recall, rejoice, and then renew,” the artistic director recalled.

Jardin said that based on those three Rs (recall, rejoice, and renew), the people in the CCP have built around the next six months a program that would allow them to not only reminisce but also show to the public the accomplishments of the CCP.

“Our projects within the past 40 years have helped create an outstanding body of original Filipino works that speak of us as a nation and has helped define our national identity,” Jardin related.

Through various programs that are not only limited in Metro Manila, the people behind the institution believe that the CCP has contributed a lot in promoting cultural empowerment in the country.

Defining the future

“The CCP has been a catalyst in the creation of original, cutting- edge, innovative work by young Filipino artists.”

In May, a major forum will be conducted to help CCP define its future direction. As it continuously involves and encourages more young artists to promote their works, a series of events is dedicated to acknowledge contemporary talents and art.

For the months of June and July, the theme will be Brave New Works:  Original Filipino Creations. New works in literature will be presented in a literary performance series entitled Word Jam: Spoken Word Festival on June 10 to 24 and July 1 to 8. A concert of classical artists in tandem with artists from Philippine cultural communities will be featured in Cultures in Harmony on June 21. Playwrights collaborate with directors, actors and designers in staging their untried, untested, and unpublished works in Virgin Labfest 5 on June 24 to July 5 back-to-back with WI-FI Body: Independent Dance Festival with cutting-edge works by the country’s most exciting choreographers today. New symphonic works will be premiered in Music Underkunstruktion on July 15 in a co-production with the Metro Manila Community Orchestra. Also in July are the Thirteen Artists Awards and Exhibit and the much-awaited Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition.

All venues of the CCP Complex will be part of the grand event including Star City and the Manila Bay.

Cartoonists in Intellectual Property Right Week celebration

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Illustration by Andrew Villar

Politics and social issues are serious topics, but because of editorial cartoons, these somber matters divert attention and somehow become a form of entertainment. Thanks to the lighter yet artistic and satiric approach of cartoonists for they add humor to the most relevant issues concerning the general public.

Editorial cartoonists can affect or influence opinion without using a word or a single caption. Indeed, they are a solid force in the print media creating direct impact whenever they explain and comment on issues using their drawing pen.

In line with celebration of the Intellectual Property Rights week slated on the last week of October, Intellectual Property Philippines invited some of the most prominent cartoonists in the country in a visual feast of political and social humors depicted through comics and editorial cartoons.

The exhibit dubbed Sining, Kamalayan at Paglikha (Art, Consciousness and Creation) is a joint effort of the IPP and the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas. The exhibit mounted at the Alab Art Space located at the lobby of the IPP building will run until Nov. 20.

SKP is premier artistic organization founded 30 years ago by pioneers led by Larry Alcala. The Samahan has about 30 members composed of active and retired editorial cartoonists, comic-strip artists and illustrators. The organization’s objective is to professionalize the profession of cartoonists and to improve their plight.

The organization is also active with different advocacies and supports the Asean missions and the United Nations Millennium Development goals. It has participated in numerous exhibitions here and abroad that showcased Filipino talents.

“Cartoon art is the most popular art form in the world. Cartoons amuse us, provoke us, and make us think. Cartoons are intellectual, entertaining, and educational. It is a means of communication unique throughout the world. They deliver messages simple and profound with directness and immediacy. For generation upon generation, cartoon serves both as a mirror of times and a memory of social and political history,” Norman Isaac, one of the founding members of the SKP, said during his speech at the launching of the exhibit.

According to Isaac, SKP discusses issues on environment like climate change, other issues like population, fight against graft and corruption, HIV/AIDS, and other matters concerning the predicament of the people.

Also during his speech, Isaac expressed his sentiments regarding the condition of editorial cartooning and illustration in the Philippines. Compared to other countries like United States, South Korea, Singapore, and Bulgaria, editorial cartooning is given much importance as a form of fine arts. In Bulgaria particularly, a museum called “House of Humor” contains vast numbers of cartoon art in print, animation and sculptures from all corners of the world.

“In the Philippines, so far, not a single cartoonist has been named as a national artist. Maybe the award-giving body thinks that cartoonists are just clowns who give comic relief to a depressed society,” Isaac expressed.

Isaac and the rest of the artists present at the event were glad to the IPP’s effort of inviting them to mount an exhibition at the Alab Art Space. The exhibition gallery is an alternative venue to showcase the works of budding artists.

Illustration by Norman Isaac

According to Carmen Peralta, chairman of 2008 IPR Week celebration, the space for exhibition is free of charge, the arrangement between them and the artists is just a 10-percent commission that will go to the development of the venue and for the seminars being conducted by the IPP.

Some of the participating artists in the exhibition are veteran cartoonists and illustrators Roni Santiago, Hugo “Boboy” Yuzon, Norman Issac, and Rene Aranda. Other works are from SKP members William Contreras, Aileen Casis, Nick Pertierra, R2omy Buen, Ariel Atienza, Stanley Chi, Bladmer Usi, Freely Abrigo, Andrew Villar, Roger Sanchez, Julius Vilanueva, Toto Yonzon, and Jun Acquino.

from yuta to work of art

Art Exhibit

YUTA: Earthworks

by Julie Lluch

Where: Cultural Center of the Philippines Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery)

On view until December 31

(full article to follow)

Introducing Fernando Amorsolo to a new generation

By Nickie Wang/Manila Standard Today

Fernando Amorsolo self portrait

Visiting art museums and galleries seemingly is something unexciting to children and teenagers of this generation.

They’d rather go to concerts or the movies than spend time in somber halls of a museum gawking at sculptures or paintings they can’t seem to understand. What they enjoy doing most these days is engaging in anything that’s physical, like sports. Yet, more often than not, these youngsters are in a state of catatonia, and looking like they are busy in their own world that is defined by new technology, like gadgets and the Internet.

Visual artist talks about environment, social imbalance

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
09 August 2008
Socio-realism is the term used by artists to depict their works that focus on the everyday life of the working class and the impoverished people.

It could be just an artistic style, but for local artist Gene de Loyola, it’s more than just an approach or a detailed form of color and other elements, it is an avenue where he can promote balance and development using his paint and his brush.

With his fourth solo exhibition at the Alab Art Space in the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) in Makati City, socio-realist visual artist De Loyola drives home a message of keeping the balance in the environment and bridging the gap between the social classes.

Entitled Ugnay, De Loyola explained that the exhibition aims to open a new level of awareness.

“Ugnay tells the truth. It reflects our society… Katotohanang may mayaman at mahirap. And between the two, there’s a dominant force. What Ugnay wants to do is to keep the balance because if there’s a balance, there’s a strong majority, tayo’y magiging matatag,” De Loyola said in an interview.

De Loyola was born on Sept. 10, 1956 in Naga City and started drawing at a tender age of four. When he was six years old, he was introduced by his father to Broulio Roman Dayao, who happened to be their neighbor in Quezon City. Dayao, a graduate of UP Fine Arts, was known then for his landscapes and portraiture. De Loyola was so impressed with the maestro that almost everyday from school, he would proceed to the studio of Dayao to watch him paint.

“He gave me a watercolor and a paper. Since then yung passion ko for art developed. Dun din nagsimula yung pagpipinta ko ‘on the spot’,” the artist shared.

Inspired by the beauty of nature, De Loyola’s latest offering mirrors the development in the province of Rizal where he now resides. Over 50 paintings in soft pastel, watercolor, acrylic and oil on canvass are on display at the Alab Art Space. The most outstanding displays are: Tampisaw sa Batis (35” x 45”); Pulutong (watercolor, 35”x45”); and Gubat Batlag Sapa (35”x 45”).

In 2006, the Pacheco Artists Program conferred the Gawad Artista ng Bayan Award to De Loyola. He was likewise given the prestigious Huwarang Pilipino Award for the Arts in 2003 presented by Radyo ng Bayan in cooperation with Huwarang Pilipino Foundation for his contributions to the art industry.

Known for his efforts to uphold the development of Philippine art and culture, De Loyola jointly founded Buklod Sining in 1980 with the late Papo de Asis. Buklod Sining presented the real situation of Philippine society through the visual arts.

This exhibition also aspires to encourage respect for intellectual property, particularly those in the creative sector. De Loyola’s exhibit is among the collaborative initiatives between IP Philippines and the creative industries.

“Alab Art Space was established to help the organization of budding artists. We provide the exhibition space for free. We conduct seminars to inform these groups about their rights as copyright owners,” director for Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau of the IPP Carmen Peralta shared in an interview.

Alab Art Space is an alternative venue to showcase the works of budding artists. According to Peralta, the space for exhibition is free of charge, the arrangement between them and the artists is just a 10-percent commission that will go to the development of the venue and for the seminars being conducted by the IPP.

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