Damien Hirst, "Transcience Painting"
Skulls and butterflies may as well have been the mantra of ARTHK 10, this year’s edition of the Hong Kong Art Fair. You saw them everywhere, most notably those of the Damien Hirst variety. Continue reading
To what do we owe the surfeit of exciting shows that opened all over the metro this week? It seems the ides of March has swept in
Patricia Eustaquio, "Dear Sweet Filthy World IV"
the muses, with the Silverlens group leading the way:
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
Exhibit entrance
With the crowds surging around me, it felt like Megamall a day before Christmas rather than the middle of July at the bastion of Philippine culture. Thirteen artists stood onstage, each one clutching what looked like mega-sized, brightly-colored, multi-layered snow cones. The ceremony marked the formal recognition of the triennial Thirteen Artists Awards, given to progressive artists below the age of 40, successors to the original Thirteen Moderns who had challenged the accepted notions of 
Philippine art seventy years ago. Continue reading
Isn’t it great when you stumble on fantastic art when you least expect it? Not all the hype guarantees a great show, so when you come upon shows that deliver the wow factor sans the ballyhoo and waiting lists, doesn’t that just make your day?
After Mme Moitessier as Bone China, The Edible Vase, and Miss Manners crochet scuplture by Patricia Eustaquio
With apologies to Madonna….. Continue reading
