Early this year, sometime in Febuary or March, the Museum Foundation of the Philippines went on a cultural tour of Ilocos. We visited the churches of Paoay and Sta. Monica, enjoyed the famed empanada of Batac, drove all the way up north to Pagudpud, and on our last day, spent time in the heritage town of Vigan. Throughout our stay, we had as our base Sitio Remedios, the lovely resort of art patron Dr. Joven Cuanang, beautifully situated by the sea in Currimao, Ilocos Norte. From here, after a hearty breakfast of longganisa and rice, we would start our day, driving off to see the sights. In the evenings, we returned to sunset cocktails and dinners by the beach, unwinding amidst the glow of hundreds of candles.
Isa by Mark Justiniani
From December 6, 2008 to January 7, 2009, Dr. Cuanang’s charming recreation of a Spanish-era town plaza, surrounded by ten reconstructed heritage balays and a rustic stone church, hosts two exhibits: Pamati by Mark Justiniani and Rekwerdo by Joy Mallari.
PAMATI BY MARK JUSTINIANI
Mark Justiniani takes on the question of man’s place in the cosmic
Pamati by Mark Justiniani
scheme of life in this new series of charcoal on canvas pieces. He delves deep into questions on faith, eternity, and beginnings by painstakingly applying his charcoal layers, smudging and blending to perfection. In the end, the effort has smoothened his finger, temporarily obliterating even his fingerprints. What a sacrifice to his art!
Ili Ili by Mark Justiniani
Ang by Mark Justiniani
Sanhi by Mark Justiniani
REKWERDO BY JOY MALLARI
Ilocandia, the harsh and bleak landscape that spawned Juan and Antonio Luna, Fr. Jose Burgos, and Antonio Ricarte, serves as the perfect backdrop to these new works by balikbayan artist Joy Mallari. In continuing her quest for the Filipino identity, she presents new figures of interest that blend both past and present, this time depicting both men and women: the nameless laborers that sell
Par Avion by Joy Mallari
their kidneys for money in Tatlong Anghel; the OFW that remits her hard-earned wages in Par Avion; the morena that whitens her skin and pinches the bridge of her nose in Tisay; curvaceous, and dare we say, effeminate, renditions of Bonifacio and Aguinaldo in Madiwang and Magdalo.
Pamati by Mark Justiniani and Recuerdo by Joy Mallari are at Sitio Remedios from 6 December 2008 to 7 January 2009. For inquiries,
Tisay by Joy Mallari
contact Tin-Aw Arts Management at (632)892-1522 or Boston Gallery at (632)722-9205 or www.sitioremedios.com
Magdalo by Joy Mallari