Anting Anting Turns Ten

Alfredo Esquillo Jr., "Pangakong Langit"

Alfredo Esquillo Jr., "Pangakong Langit"

When we think of Cavite, we think of Emilio Aguinaldo hoisting the flag of the first Philippine Republic from his balcony in Kawit, of the tulisans that struck fear and terror on average folk, of Ramon Revilla, as Nardong Putik, brandishing his agimat against the forces of evil.  We also know the agimat as the anting-anting, an amulet against danger and death, one’s defense against bodily harm. Continue reading


Viewing The Paulino Que Collection of Young Contemporary Artists (aka, The I Wish They Were Mine Show)

Three years ago, Ambeth Ocampo arranged for the

Kim Atienza and Ayala Museum's Ken Esguerra with Jojo Legaspi's "St Thelma"

Kim Atienza and Ayala Museum's Ken Esguerra with Jojo Legaspi's "St Thelma"

Board of Trustees of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines to view Paulino and Hetty Que’s collection of Philippine art and historical objets.  Ambeth, perhaps only half-kidding, dubbed the occasion the tour of the”… real National Gallery”.  As he took us through the assembly of works, from Juan Luna’s canvases, to Fabian dela Rosa’s landscapes, then onto the Amorsolos, and the Thirteen Moderns, from the Ben Cabs to the Ang Kiukoks, we realized what Ambeth meant.  The staggering display covered the whole gamut of Philippine art history from Damian Domingo’s Academia de Dibujo to the 1980s.   Continue reading


TutoK Tackles Crisis; Mike Goes Eclectic

mask

Detail: Neil Pasilan Installation

TUTOKKK:  KRISIS, KALUNASAN…ANONG K MO? AT BLANC COMPOUND

Three years ago, a core group of concerned artists came together to make a stand against the spate of extra-judicial killings that hit unrecognized, anonymous, mostly rural, Filipinos.  Since then, this loosely-organized band of artists, headed by Manny Garibay and Karen Flores, have made it

Manny Garibay and Racquel de Loyola

Manny Garibay and Racquel de Loyola

tradition to put together an exhibit on or around December 1, Human Rights Day.  To quote core member Noel Soler Cuizon, “Tutok employs art as medium, message, and motivation” to call attention to important issues affecting our daily lives, collaborating with NGOs like KARAPATAN and educational institutions such as the University of Sto. Tomas, St. Scholastica’s College, and Ateneo de Manila University.

tutok-foregroundFor this, their anniversary show with an array of over a hundred 18 x 24 inch works, TutoK challenges both artists and the community at large:  what do you make of a nation, and a world, in financial crisis?

The show is on view from 30 November to 10 December 2008 at Blanc Compound, 359 Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong, Ph: (632)752-0080 www.blanc.ph

Mark Andy Garcia and Lynyrd Paras

Mark Andy Garcia and Lynyrd Paras

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrance Installation by Don Salubayba

Entrance Installation by Don Salubayba

By Bogie Ruiz

By Bogie Ruiz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mimi Tecson Collage

Detail: Mimi Tecson Collage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Jay Pacena

By Jay Pacena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ECLECTIC BY MICHAEL CACNIO

mike-bull

Michael Cacnio’s brass sculptures, with their decorative, often humorous, take on everyday Philippine life may seem poles apart from TutoK’s more

Subok

Detail: Subok

thought-provoking pieces.  Mike’s works are easy and whimsical and popular; his shows quickly sell out.  But the underlying viewpoint perhaps falls within the same spectrum: that of celebrating one’s Pinoyness with aplomb, no matter what life hands you.

Buking!

Buking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eclectic by Michael Cacnio, 24 November to 7 December 2008  at 1/0f Gallery, The Shops at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Ph (632)901-3152 Email:  1of.gallery@gmail.com