My First Article for Rogue: The Art of Seeing

I just got a copy of Rogue and I'm giddy like a schoolgirl. It's a dream of mine to contribute to this style and culture beacon. My editor, Nicola Sebastian, and I have been trying to agree on a topic for months and after a few false starts, we've settled on art. It's one of the things I love writing about and I'm doubly excited that I made it in on their yearly art issue! 

The Art of Seeing was inspired by John Berger's, "Ways of Seeing"- a book and a BBC series that demystified how we looked at paintings. Personally, it encouraged me to have a dialog with art instead of trying to label it and critique it. So I thought it'd be interesting to have people from different walks of life do the same. I asked an artist, a student, a banker, a nurse, and an art curator to tell me what they thought of Clockwise by John Jose Santos III.

If you're interested to read it, you have four days to get a copy. Or you can hop on over to Reese Lansangan's site. She's the young artist I interviewed for the piece. She scanned a copy and put it on her splashy blog, which I absolutely heart. 

Btw, for this issue my friend JP Cuison drew about the history of Philippine comics. As of this writing, it's garnering interest because Gerry Alanguilan is adamantly opposing the influence of Carlo J. Caparas on the Philippine indie comic scene. I wonder how that hullabaloo will pan out. Nonetheless, this is a power-packed issue with interviews on Leeroy New and Ronald Ventura. 

The Tokwa and Soleil Team Up

I'm so excited for this Saturday. Two of my favorite young artists are having their exhibit at Heima, Cubao X. I need to prepare some creative questions to bug them with on their big night.  In the meantime, here's a moody video to get you into the, "Hello Sailor" mind space. 


   


In collaboration with Heima, Soleil Ignacio and Tokwa Penaflorida's two-man show entitled, “Hello Sailor”, is an exhibit of watercolor works on paper. The artworks revolve around representations of water-dwelling creatures—mermaids, sirens, water nymphs with flowing locks amongst lithe bodies, and gazes that are transformed and transfixing—all paradoxical depictions of agelessness and beauty. Revisiting old tales of desire and seduction, dreams of the conquests of men at sea, their inevitable longing for temptresses are delicately captured in these pallid and frail wraiths. 


See you at: Hello Sailor exhibit launch featuring Thursday Room's Soleil Ignacio and Tokwa Penaflorida is on Saturday, April 14, 2012, 8PM at Heima Cubao X

Juice.ph Article on Secret Fresh Art Toys

I have a confession. Before doing this article, I never understood what the heck art toys were. For the life of me, I couldn't fathom why people collected them. I'm happy these two people from Secret Fresh enlightened me. Click this link to see full article on Juice.ph. It's a fun one I promise ;)

Artist JP Cuison and Gallery Manager Lena Cobangbang

Two Free Tickets to MANILART 2011

I went to Secret Fresh over the weekend to talk about their upcoming exhibit at MANILART 2011. I got a first-hand introduction to art toys- displayable sculptures that take inspiration from more traditional art. Think a 3D form of a painting. I think it's definitely a form of artistry worth exploring. Here are some of the local toy art figures that caught my eye.  

Bochog Manster by Nemo Aguila 

Rizalborg by JP Cuison 

 Rainbow Bringer by Bjorn Calleja

 Paley Pills by Christian Tamondong

I also got to meet some very cool people. From left to right: Toy maker Rommel Chua, Artist JP Cuison, Gallery manager Lena Cobangbang, Artist Christian Tamondong, Secret Fresh owner Big Boy Cheng, and Gallery assistant Robert Dim. Of course, that's me at the end. Thanks to Marlo Ongpin (not pictured) for all the awesome photos!

They gave me some complimentary tickets to MANILART but I was able to go to the gala event last night so I've decided to give them away. MANILART is happening now until Saturday. It's something special to do this long weekend, with a friend or with a special someone. Just leave a comment on the blog (not on FB please) to let me know why you'd like to go. Best answer by 12pm tomorrow (August 26) wins it! 

The First Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival

Over the weekend, me and and a bunch of friends traveled to Puerto Galera to take part of the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival. It was spectacular see this unique concert venue situated on top of mountain.  Here I am hitching a ride with wooden lizard which by the way is a work of art. We're riding down to the grassy amphitheater below.

There were a lot of interesting art pieces to be found at the festival. They even constructed a Mangyan Village where artists could sleepover for the night. Billy Bonnevie, a friendly resident artist, would sit down and give you lessons on village life and music. I dig his threads.

I wish I could look as funky wearing something like that. But I do love this sarong dress that I picked up from the market beside our resort. It's a steal of P180 plus it matches my necklace perfectly.

 

 

I was there to support one of the organizers, Olivia d'Aboville, who also happens to be an artist. She works with discarded plastics and dramatic lighting to create stunning visual statements. You can tell what these are made off. It was wrapped around a tree and lit in blue. 

Olivia's family set this up to support the Mangyans, comprised of the eight indigenous groups found in Mindoro. They used to inhabit the shores of the island but were driven higher and higher up the mountains to preserve their way of life. Now that development is so widespread, it may just encroach upon them again. So where are they to go? I think some of the art tried to communicate those issues.  

Serious concerns aside, the event was so much fun to be a part of. The nights were breezy, the people were warm, and the vibe was chill.  On the first night, the full moon shone bright like nature's big nighlight. I loved the organic feel of it all. How I could just head over to the Tree Bar and get some drinks, lay there and take in the music, or  jump to my feet and start dancing. 

The only thing that I would suggest they improve on would be the music selection which had too many genres. You'd be feeling the groove of world music but then it'd be followed up by some abstract techno. It kind of killed the buzz for some music lovers. However, I discovered a new band that I liked. Kadangyan. Their sound is has that Filipino island beat but mixed in with modern music. They used indigenous instruments and wore traditional garments. Alavet.

The best trip of the year so far. It really reminded of why I loved going out of town. This is me with my half frown and the "Tibetan" bag from I got from Beijing (A reminder of the need to help our disenfranchised cultures. How apt.) How I wish I could have stayed in that hut for a little while longer.

Gigzilla Posters from JP Cuison

   

JP Cuison, advertising wonder kid, rock star, and and artist extraordinaire has released his gig posters to the wild. So now you can have a piece of his zaniness for you very own. Get it at Secret Fresh at the Ronac Art Center.

I got this Rizal Cyborg silk screen and I consider it one my best art purchases. I'm not going to say for how much but these posters are retailing for P2,500. Not too bad if you've scanned how much some art pieces are going for nowadays. 

What I really like about JP (aside from his killer Robin Padilla impersonations) is that he's managed to make our Filipino jeepney aesthetic cool. The jeepney aesthetic is a fantastically confused artform that's a hodgepodge of anything and everything we like. Look at the side of any jeepney and you'll see what I'm talking about. Filipinos just have this need to put their faith, their love for anime, a portrait of their first born, and anything they fancy in one canvas for all to see. JP's work is about turning over popular symbols by infusing it with unrelated imagery. Sometimes, it turns out ironic. Sometimes, it's just plain strange. Either way, it's electric. 

Oh, they're also selling toys from JP Cuison and other artists.

You Are Not Here Exhbit at Pablo the Fort

I saw these photos from Brendan Goco's facebook album and I was enthralled. I had to see this exhibit for myself.Jamie Oscar Salazar explains what this collection is about: The displacement involves dis-location and dis-ease, which is to say thought out of joint and feeling out of key (as well as reverse). Living as we do, however, in a world that is a flux, a world that is every time and everywhere contested, displacement can also be liberative and transformational, invigorating the imagination toward the creation of a different future: a reality that is not limited tot he price of tomatoes and eggs. The result of which is, "You Are Not Here" works of art by Zeus Basco, Jigger Cruz, Mica Cabildo, Marcus Nada, AJ Omandac, Katwo Peurtollano, Nico Puertollano, and Bernie Sim. 

Window Displace by Marcushiro 

Kiss with A Fist by Katwo Puertollano

The Last Defense by Bru

Soft Chess Set by Mica Cabildo 

Miss Memory by AJ Omandac 

Structure of Ironies by Zeus Bascon 

The works are lovely but what jumped out for me was the Soft Chess Set.  Chess is a game that symbolizes power and strategy and yet here, it is made from the same material used for a  baby's bonnet and socks. That for me evokes displacement, a feeling of disjointedness and wonder. When you shake up a person's mind, it's bound to think different and instigating all sorts of questions. Notice how the pawns are facing towards the king and the queen in a bowed position- in mock subservience of the equally soft rulers. This is something that may not have been intended by the artist but it sparked my interest. The Goodbye cross-stitch was also very fascinating. It made me think of how we always see one side of a farewell, but fail to realize that parting is also a chance for a new beginning. So there is merit in being able to see what's ahead. 

I love going to galleries and having thoughts like these pop up. 

Check it out at Pablo Gallery 

from Oct. c16- Nov. 14

Unit C-11, South of the Market Condominium

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

Thanks to the talented Brendan for the photos. Only 1, 7, and 8 were by me.

Setting the Scene with Eduardo Sicangco

Naysayers like to say that our culture isn’t making it on the world stage because of our ultra confused heritage. But a certain, “Toto” from Negros dared to say otherwise and actually made it on the stages of Broadway. “Toto” is Eduardo Sicangco and he is a multi-awarded scenographer- the person in charge of creating the look of a stage performance. This goes from how the curtain opens, to the transforming sets, down to everyone’s costumes.

 

I picked up this inspiring bit from his interview on Flow Magazine:

How much of your roots do you channel when you design?

My Filipino roots are a given. They inform my sensibility and sensitivity as a designer and as an artist. And what advantageous roots! Malay/ Pacific Islander, Spanish. European/Latin,  Asian/Oriental, American/Hollywood, even Muslim. For a designer, the Philippines is fortuitous and lucky place to be from, specifically in terms of frames of reference. Look around: Spanish cathedral and cobble-stoned streets, mosques and minarets, McDonalds and Startbucks, pagodas and nipa huts, primitve tribal art and Juan Luna! Short of African. I am fortunate enough to possess a naturally affinity for most sensibilities required by various projects. Now take all these and combine with the ultra-sophisticated mindset of a world-class city like New York and you have quite an edge.

Here Sicangco talks about his creative process on Adobo Magazine:

“From the script and story, as a designer you get a blurry image in your mind. And you try to make that image clearer and clearers. I procrastinate and procrastinate and I turn to sharpening my pencils so it feels like I’m working – and finally I just do it. That’s when it starts to flow. Creative chaos. That’s how I work. Like a bomb exploded in my apartment is an apt description. My apartment will never make it to Architectural Digest. Never.”

I love how his work is infused with the Pinoy fiesta aesthetic. If you’ve been to Philippine fiesta and watched our floats and our handmade costumes, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

All photos were taken from his website.