Manila Art fair bests: Yusof, Villaseran & Antonio

20 Jul 09

First heard about an art fair in Manila–the first of its kind– from Mr. Rio Ambrosio and his wife Annie, amiable owners of Artes Orientes gallery where I bought a painting last week.

Always always I get giddy when I visit galleries–just the proximity to creative babies is enough to inspire and refill the well..so imagine my glee being in a roomful (tentful!) of paintings and art from a good number of Philippine artists! Wowoweeee (such joy calls for a leap, a dance!)!!

Sharing below the pieces that most tugged at the heart:
Movement of Nature by Abd Racid Yusof – they make you sway, right? they take you to the river, you can hear it gushing!

Had to stop and ask for the artist’s name when I saw these… so evocative, of childhood (lost?) or a pause, to think, to ponder, to pout and stare… by Marcel Antonio. Left work was sold for 230k if I remember right.

These pieces by Rom Villaseran won me over at first glance… wow. Talked to the gallery rep, his process requires him to sand the canvas, paint (he uses acryclics), then sand, then paint. Does this almost 30 times, to come up with such a smooth finish. Beautiful, fantastical images.. a book/portfolio of his works describes them as “replete with shadowy, mythological figures, celestial beings and denizens of the netherworld.” One favorite had a giant blue squid in outer space (reminded me of SilverHawks the cartoons) with a cheeky menacing look (was not on exhibit, saw it in the book/folio). Will certainly watch out for Foreplay, his upcoming exhibit at the WhiteWall Gallery on August 28-September 9.