Joey Cobcobo, "Blak Picasso (Phyllis Zaballero)"
In a matriarchal society such as ours, grandmothers hold particularly beloved positions. Joey Cobcobo witnessed how becoming Lola transformed his own mother, and the unique and special bond she forged with his kids. He started interviewing grandmothers in 2010, documenting insights into their relationships with their grandchildren. Two years ago, he exhibited the fruits of his research in his solo show, Lola 101. Continue reading
Just like everybody else in the audience, I eagerly awaited the announcement of winners for this year’s Ateneo Art Awards. The
Shattering States: The Ateneo Art Awards 2010 Winners: Pow Martinez, Leslie de Chavez, and Mark Salvatus
Ateneo Art Gallery staff kept the final results under tight guard, even to us jurors. Thankfully, they paced this year’s awards night programme so that none of us had long to wait. Continue reading
Toti Cerda, "Broken Vows'
It’s a great time to swing by the National Museum. For history buffs, War and Dissent looks at the Philippine-American War from 1898 to 1915 and examines both sides of the conflict in meticulous detail. For fashionistas, the Slim Retrospective offers a rare glimpse of Salvacion Lim Higgins’ exquisite creations from the 1950s to the 1990s. And for us art addicts, the Philippine Art Awards exhibit of winners starts today. Continue reading
Ateneo Art Awards Short-listed Artists with Fr. Nebres of the Ateneo, Richie Lerma of the Ateneo Art Gallery, judges, and sponsors (photo from Rani Jalandoni)
Michelline Syuco with a piece from "Armadillon"
Well, I got two of the three winners right, and the third I actually picked as a runner-up, so I guess I didn’t do too badly in predicting this year’s recipients of the Ateneo Art Awards. I had a feeling the two-dimensional pieces would be passed over, no matter how excellently-made. All in all, the quality of the short-listed artists only bodes well for the future of Philippine art. I am proud to say I saw all but two of the shows in situ. It was great to relive them at the Ateneo Art Gallery’s display at Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Of course the experience does not come close to actually viewing the shows (where was Patty’s lace piano?), but still, you do get a feel for the sensibilities of each of the artists. How exhilarating to witness the diversity!
Detail from Michelline Syjuco's "Armadillon", shown at Mag:net
Raul Manzano, Editor-In-Chief of Metro Society, one of the night's sponsors
Pandy Aviado Installation
I always look forward to Albert Avellana’s opening nights. When I finally turn into the gates of 2680 FB Harrison St., I know that I have not only put the bumper to bumper congestion of EDSA behind me, I have also shed off the strain and stress of my mundane workday. Here, where art hardly ever is mainstream, one never gets visually assaulted. Works are appreciated as they should be, never piled one atop the other like a grade school classroom’s bulletin board of perfectly done math tests.
Albert’s gallery provided the perfect setting for Pandy Aviado, Ambie Abano, Joey Cobcobo, Benjie Torrado Cabrera, Evelyn Collantes, Florencio Concepcion, Noell El Farol, and Eugene Jarque to display the versatility of their printmaking. In the red alcove on the first floor, I loved Pandy’s hanging installation of
Ambie
clear bottles (Tanduay Rum?) housing tiny prints on paper. Upstairs, both Ambie and Joey show woodblock prints alongside the actual pieces of carved wood, sculpture onto themselves, used to make the imprints. Ambie Abano’s faces have long been a favorite with me. It’s great when Ambie, who is also the President of the Printmakers Association of the Philippines, gets back to what she does best, displaying the talent that landed her the grand prize at the 2006 Philip Morris Philippine Art Awards. Benjie Cabrera, on the other hand, presented delicately engraved acrylic panels, bent and curved to catch light at just the right angles. Printmaking in a most unusual medium.
Joey Cobcobo
Another great thing about going to Albert’s: once I’ve had my fill of the exhibit currently on display, his backroom, actually two other houses further inside the compound, can be thoroughly explored and sifted through, frequently yielding treasures from exhibits past. Then there is also Eric Paras’ furniture atelier to visit, with his export line of beds, desks, dining sets, and small knick-knacks, perfect for gifts, spread out over three other houses.
Finally, after my sense of sight has been completely nourished, I naturally gravitate to the side garden of the main gallery. Here, weather permitting, I can sit back and enjoy great conversation as I sip perfectly chilled wine, twirl Albert’s pasta around my fork, jazz or classical music softly playing in the background.
Benjie Cabrera Engraving
8 Printmakers was exhibited at Avellana Art Gallery from Sept. 3 to 30, 2008. Avellana Art Gallery is at a compound in 2680 FB Harrison St., Pasay City, phone no:(632)833-8357
Eugene Jarque