An opportunity to meet, greet, shake the hands of, and converse with your favorite legendary artist
Imagine walking into a mall where instead of car exhibits and sales, you see one big panel among many with a portrait of your favorite artist in it with his/her paintings in the background. And as you wander around, at the back of this exhibit is that artist himself, willing to have a photo with you, talk to you, and even sign something for you.
“The Artists Gallery” panel exhibit of The Filipino Artists in their Studios made that dream come true for you. First held at the SM Mall of Asia as part of the continuing tribute to the Philippine visual arts by the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, the series of exhibits at selected SM malls showcases 75 Filipino artists, from the very established to the just emerging, and their contribution to the Philippine art scene. These artists are the first batch of artists featured in the book Filipino Artists in their Studios, a 321-page compilation of 75 portraits of artists in their private workspaces by Pinggot Zulueta and articles edited by Isabel C. de Leon that came out in the Arts and Culture section of the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section under Artists at Work.
Top view of The Artists Gallery at SM Mall of Asia.
(Images by Manny Llanes)
“It’s like bringing a private museum closer to the public. It enables the viewers to see a glimpse of the featured artist’s studio. It is an eye opener especially for students of the arts and art aficionados,” says artist Ross Capili. Indeed, the mall tour opens doors for the viewing public into the life devoted to art, craftsmanship, and world-making.
Spotted at the launch of this first leg of the tour were Ramon Orlina, Michael Cacnio, Mideo Cruz, Ross Capili, Raul Lebajo, Marcel Antonio, Carlo Magno, Raul Isidro, Charlie Co, Edgar Doctor, Salvador Ching, Edgar Fernandez, Fil Delacruz, Araceli Dans, Betsy Westendorp, Hermes Alegre, Renato Habulan, and Ramon Diaz.
(from left) Marcel Antonio; Hermes Alegre; Raul Lebajo; Perkin So, SM AVP for Operations; Charlie Co; Edgar Doctor; Raul Isidro; Millie Dizon, SM SVP for Marketing; Fil Delacruz; Araceli Limcaco-Dans, Betsy Westendorp; Egai Talusan Fernandez; Mideo Cruz; Melito Salazar, MB Vice President; Ross Capili; Buddy Ching; and Carlo Magno.
The exhibit is a project of Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation in cooperation with SM Mall of Asia, University of Santo Tomas, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Galerie Joaquin, Galleria Duemila, Galerie Francesca, Café France, and National Book Store.
The gallery is at SM Megamall until today, Jan. 25. It then moves to SM Aura on Feb. 6, where it runs until Feb. 25, and then to SM The Block North Edsa on Feb. 20, where it runs until Feb. 24.
Pinggot Zulueta’s coffee table book Filipino Artists in Their Studios, available at National Book Store and Fully Booked, is also on sale during the tour for P3,990.