Category Archives: arts and culture


Jose John Santos III Offers A Sneak Peek

Jose John Santos III, "Wishbone"

It was in 2009’s {Un}Common that Jose John Santos III first introduced us to his fascination with objects.  Almost exactly two years later, Sneak Peek, his first solo show since then, affirms that this has not waned.  This time around, John opts for simple, quiet compositions for his paintings.  Originally installed at the gallery of Sitio Remedios, the beautiful Ilocos beachside resort of art patron Dr. Joven Cuanang, this exhibit travelled to Art Informal in Greenhills, a concession to allow Manila-based enthusiasts a chance to view the latest from John. Continue reading →


Joven Mansit And Jose Rizal

Joven Mansit , "Mein Kampf", oil on canvas

Joven Mansit ends the year with a tribute to Jose Rizal’s sesquicentennial.  The exhibit’s title, Dimasalang, which translates to untouchable, comes from one of two pseudonyms that Rizal adopted for his writings in the struggle against Spain.  Joven’s suite of medium-sized and small-scale paintings reexamines the cult of our National Hero, one whom we regard as the father of our nation.  “I wanted to challenge the common representations of Rizal”, he explained in the vernacular.  “We have so many urban legends about him…They reveal more about ourselves, how we assess our history, and how we look at our past.” Continue reading →


Herve di Rosa in Manila

By Herve di Rosa

“The Philippines is a very particular place”, observed Hervé di Rosa over Thai food.  “One foot in the west, and one in the east”, he added, stomping his feet in turn to make his point.  “I also notice that the tradition of painting is very strong here, with young artists still taking it up.” Continue reading →


Troy Ignacio Goes To The Dogs

Troy Ignacio, "All Mine"

Troy Ignacio considers himself a social realist.  His distorted, caricature-like portrayals of the people he encounters daily belie the seriousness with which he views issues such as poverty and injustice.  He has adopted a stark, black and white palette to underscore how ordinary and matter-of-fact we look at situations that should cause outrage.  A little girl allowed by her parents to dress as scantily as the dancers on a daily television variety show, or an old man forced to eke out a living hawking cigarettes, have been some of the subjects rendered in his oil on paper paintings. Continue reading →


Ronald Ventura’s Humanime In Taiwan

Ronald Ventura changes gears once again for Humanime at the Fine Art Center in Tainan, Taiwan.  In this one-man show, which ended this week, Ronald exhibited large-scale paintings and life-sized sculpture, embracing an aesthetic that hews close to the superflats of artists like Takashi Murakami and Aya Takano.  He has incorporated anime elements in most of his recent works, but this marks the first time he has mined this concept so thoroughly. Ronald enjoys a tremendous following in Taiwan.   He pulled out all the stops for this exhibit, opening with a live performance involving models costumed in the cutesy-provocative style of Harajuku girls, an event duly covered by the city’s media. Continue reading →


Alfredo Esquillo Jr.’s Kalooban Narratives

Alfredo Esquillo Jr., "Fruit Of Thy Womb", detail

The Filipino-English dictionary translates kalooban into three words:  heart, mind, will.  Alfredo Esquillo Jr. considers it the most spiritual word in the Tagalog language.  “We can use it in our daily living or we use it in our relationship with God. That we have this one word must mean it is innate in us.” Continue reading →


Kaloy Sanchez, His Missives, And More at West Gallery

Kaloy Sanchez likes to be alone.  The twenty-nine-year-old artist recluses himself in his studio, painting the environment that exists within what he calls a bubble, the world that encompasses only his immediate surroundings.  He hardly ventures out, not even for the receptions that open his group shows.  He chooses to keep largely to himself despite his recent rise into the consciousness of Manila’s art collectors. Continue reading →


Yasmin Sison Explores What’s Underneath The Sky Plus Alternative Collages and Nikki Luna’s Menagerie of Lilies

Yasmin Sison, "Haraya (Underneath The Sky)"

Yasmin Sison revisits familiar elements in this solo exhibit, her first in Manila since her 2009 show, Into The Woods, at SM Art Center.  She returns to her portrayals of children.  This set brings them indoors, away from the forest and the shore that have served as settings for her more recent depictions of kids at play.  These hark back to 2007’s Gingerbread Girls, with the kids seated against a plain backdrop, looking squarely at the viewer. Continue reading →


A Photography Collection at silverlens

Neil Oshima, "Gummy Worms", 2009

I’ve had the good fortune to view pieces from Isa Lorenzo and Rachel Rillo’s private art collection before, an invitation I wouldn’t have passed up.  The chance of savoring Rachel’s cooking served as an equally strong lure as the superb art they laid out for our enjoyment. I think that it’s great that they’ve mounted selected works at silverlens, the gallery they own and manage.  A Photography Collection allows their clients and supporters to share in their affinity for an art form that they both practice so well. Continue reading →


Realities, The Ronald Ventura Book

At the book launch

These days, Ronald Ventura carries one of the most recognizable names in Philippine—even Asian— art.  We constantly discuss the millions of pesos (and after the Christie’s Spring Auctions in May, the million dollars) his pieces command in the salerooms in Hong Kong.  While we marvel at his incredible technique, we moan about the impossibly long waiting list for any of his works. Many of us, even the most ardent art collectors, tend to forget that Ronald’s success today has meant more than a dozen years of consistency and confidence, of pushing the boundaries, of staying ahead of the game, of ignoring the skeptics and enduring controversy. Continue reading →