manila art blogger

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. Continue reading →

Plainview Goal, Mixed Media Installation by Don Salubayba

Maps have fascinated for ages. Picture crude etchings discovered in caves, a diagram of the heavens crafted by ancient man to guide his destiny. Or the rudimentary representations of land and sea that steered Balboa, Columbus, and Magellan to historic conquests. In those days, cartographers depicted a flat planet that ended in a precipice, beyond which lay the great

Patricia and Patring by Tina Fernandez

unknown. What would the legendary explorers make of the GPRS features in cars and phones of today, when one touch of a button steers us precisely two kilometers to the east or west, or pinpoints locations with precision? Proof that maps serve both as guide and historic document, getting more sophisticated as man marches on to progress.

Makina Anatomika by Brendale Tadeo

Detail, Leeroy New Hanging Installation

In this show, Art Cabinet Philippines challenges 12 artists to come up with their take on maps, each one alloted a space of their own choosing in a recently-vacated penthouse. The non-traditional venue, with its commanding views of the city skyline, help unleash the powers of their imagination, fueling creativity in what promises to be a truly unique show. Hopefully, this heralds the beginning of a series of great concepts, a different way of viewing and appreciating the visual arts.

Allegorical Partition by Anton del Castillo

Alice by Lea Lim

2805B Map Ruminations by Anton del Castillo, Marc Cosico, Tina Fernandez, Mark Gaba, Mark Andy Garcia, Lea Lim, Leeroy New, Sandra Palomar, Alwin Reamillo, Don Salubayba, Brendale Tadeo, and Ian Victoriano is on view from 4 to 14 December 2008 at Apt. 2805B, Three Salcedo Place, Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village. Viewing times are from 5 to 8 pm. Contact (+63928) 5504816 or www.artcabinetphilippines.com