January 2007

A Blast From the Arts

A Blast From the Arts

By Constantino Tejero

Inquirer

Last updated 02:56am (Mla time) 01/01/2007

Published on page C1 of the January 1, 2007 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

PHILIPPINE POLITICS may be a mess, the economy is on the brink, and the poor will always be poor, but the one thing still alive and kicking in the country all year round is the arts. A salute to the Filipino artist then for always deserving of our thumbs up, way, way up.

Elderly but still potent

Some senior artists don’t seem to dry up of creative juices, as they never fail to mount exhibits of their most recent works with undiminished potency. Just when you think they’ve long been rolling in their laurels, you stumble on new works by the likes of Arturo Luz, Juvenal Sansó, Roberto Chabet, Malang Santos. Even the nonagenarian Anita Magsaysay-Ho startles the art world now and then with a brilliant piece or two.

Young but very, very strong

Upcoming artists and relative unknowns often come up with strong art that can hold a candle to works by veterans. In June, Jesus Genotiva held his first solo show of expressionist portraits so potent one couldn’t look at them with equilibrium. One Marlon Magbanua impresses with abstraction of such fineness it should shame the clumsy brushwork of a few overhyped abstractionists.

Still on the frontline

Artists we haven’t heard from for some time have returned to the scene. Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco came back from abroad and continued their series of avant-gardist installations and performances. Some we thought have stopped production, such as Red Mansueto and Alan Rivera, reappeared in group exhibits with interesting innovations on their respective art.

Hearts of gold

Artists can always be relied on to raise funds for charity. Early this year, Kulay Marikina exhibited nearly 100 artworks whose proceeds went to indigent cancer-stricken patients of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. This month, Impy Pilapil and Ann Pamintuan are exhibiting their sculptural pieces for the cause of Make-a-Wish and Kythe Foundation. This only underscores the fact that artists are really humanitarians at heart.

Excitement of awards

The Thirteen Artists Award, now given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines every three years, proves to be as exciting as ever. Many of the awardees this year are precisely the same people the development of whose respective art we have been watching for some years now: Jeho Bitancor, Jayson Oliveria, Lyra Abueg Garcellano, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Luisito Cordero, Ma. Cristina Valdezco, Jevijoe Vitug, Mariano Ching, Daniel Coquilla, Lena Cobangbang, Ronald Anading, Eugene Jarque and Yasmin Sison-Ching. This award can be more exciting than the National Artists Award as its choices hold an element of surprise while the latter’s are often a foregone conclusion.

Source:  Philippine Daily Inquirer 

Chromatext Reloaded at the CCP

Chromatext Reloaded at the CCP

INQUIRER.net

Last updated 02:16pm (Mla time) 01/17/2007

Chromatext Reloaded - a grand verse-cum-visual exhibit – will be mounted by the Philippine Literary Arts Council (PLAC) & Friends at the Main Gallery of the Cultural Center of the Philippines at 6pm on January 25, lasting till February 28. Two previous Chromatext exhibits by PLAC were held Pinaglabanan Galleries in San Juan in the1980s.

Some sixty Filipino poets and writers representing several generations from here and abroad get together for a rare visual cum textual art exhibit. The show turns a page from previous Chromatext I & II series.

This time curated by Sid Gomez Hildawa, Jean-Marie Syjuco and Krip Yuson, Chromatext Reloaded celebrates the 25th anniversary of PLAC, with its surviving founders Jimmy Abad, Cirilo Bautista, Ricky de Ungria and Krip Yuson leading the poet-exhibitors.

Their works — from holographs to photographs, illustrations with poems to oil paintings, sculptural installations to video — will be joined by those of other distinguished writers, among them National Artist Edith L. Tiempo, Gilda Cordero Fernando, Raul Ingles, Tita Lacambra-Ayala, Sylvia Mendez-Ventura, the late Lilia Amansec, Ophelia Dimalanta, Merlie Alunan, Marjorie Evasco, Butch Dalisay, Pete Lacaba, Cesare A.X. Syjuco, Jun Cruz Reyes, Juaniyo Arcellana, RayVi Sunico, Danton Remoto, Frank Rivera, Margot Marfori, and Sid Gomez Hildawa.

From abroad, PLAC members and friends have sent in their contributions - David Cortes Medalla in London and Eric Gamalinda, Nick Carbo, Luisa Igloria, Eileen Tabios, Zack Linmark, and Melissa Kristoffel-Nolledo in the U.S.A.

From Baguio City, participating poet-artists include Butch Macansantos, Babeth Lolarga. and Frank Cimatu. Special guest artists who happen to be close friends to writers, if not writers themselves, include National Artist Benedicto Cabrera (Bencab), Danny Dalena, Pandy Aviado, Fil Dela Cruz, Manny Baldemor, Rock Drilon, Jean-Marie Syjuco, Judy Sibayan, Heber Bartolome, Raul Funilla, Beaulah Taguiwalo, Erlinda Panlilio, Bheng Dalisay, Lorena Javier, Boy Yuchengco, Erlinda Panlilio, Marivic Rufino, Gerry Cornejo, Pancho Villanueva and Igan D'Bayan.

Among the younger generation of poets and writers joining the exhibit are Jovi Miroy, Vim Nadera, Fran Ng, Lourd de Veyra, Jessica Zafra, Sarge Lacuesta, Joel Toledo, Ana Escalante Neri, Ginny Mata, Carlomar Daoana, Mookie Katigbak, and Angelo Suarez.

Performance art, musical works and readings will highlight the exhibit opening at 6pm on Thursday, January 25 and the closing ceremonies at 7pm on February 27. The public is invited. Copies of the revived poetry journal Caracoa and special commemorative editions of CD albums featuring the recorded readings of PLAC poets will also be on sale for the duration of the exhibit. Gallery hours are from 10am to 6pm daily, except Mondays and holidays. Admission is free. For particulars, call 8323702.

- Krip Yuson

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer