Kim Atienza’s Magnificent Cabinet of Curiosities

Elmer Borlongan, "Laklak", 1994

Kim Atienza inadvertently set me on the road to art addiction.  In 2003, one of the pieces from his collection, Alfredo Esquillo Jr.’s Mamakinley, held me in thrall at the Whitney Museum.  The quest to learn more about an artist I hadn’t heard of till then lured me into the world of contemporary Philippine art. I’ve been fixated ever since. Continue reading


Santi Bose: Remixed, Revisited, Remembered

Santiago Bose, "Ave. C"

Santi Bose’s name  conjures images in my mind of a mythical artist:  hip, bohemian, devil-may-care.  I never met him, and only encountered his work after he had passed away.  I remember walking into the third floor gallery of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2004, where curator Bobi Valenzuela had mounted a retrospective of his pieces, and being blown away.  Perhaps it is the natural affinity I have for his aesthetic.  His kitschy collages assembled with images from Philippine history and tribal artifacts just resonate with my partiality for art with that contemporary, ethnic vibe. Continue reading


Unveiling the CCP’s Hidden Treasures

Victorio Edades, The Builders, 1928

Victorio Edades, The Builders, 1928

What a pleasure to drive down to the bay area on Sunday afternoons, when Manila’s streets decongest of jeepneys, buses, FXs, and

Solomon Saprid, Penitensiya

Solomon Saprid, Penitensiya

pedestrians.  What a treat to check out the Cultural Center of the Philippines, an unheralded venue of contemporary exhibits, usually by young visual artists.  What a thrill to head down specifically to catch Suddenly Turning Visible:  The Collection at The Center. Continue reading