Two art exhibits and a book launch

MUSEO Pambata featured artist Tikoy with mother Mimi Basilio, Sea Princess and Naomi Matsumoto

Real estate and art have a lot in common. If the acquisition is excellent, both appreciate in value and become worthwhile investments. I like to think that buying property and art can be better than keeping money in the bank.

The annual Art Fair Philippines is an amazing exhibit to scout around for the best in Philippine contemporary art. Open until tomorrow, Feb. 23, the fair is staged at The Link car park building located between the Makati Shangri-La Hotel and the Landmark Department Store in Makati City.

Visitors to Art Fair Philippines 2014 can expect works by established names from the Philippine art scene, as well as by promising newcomers, showcased in curated exhibit spaces.

“OFF with her head!” by Daniel dela Cruz at Art Fair Philippines

The best in contemporary art

Once again, the car park is transformed into a surprisingly sophisticated, alternative art space in collaboration with architects from Leandro V. Locsin Partners and designer Kenneth Cobonpue. This year the fair expands into a second floor area, the Ayala Art Annex, featuring more galleries and installations, specially commissioned for the fair as well as a lecture suite and a room dedicated to video art. Christie’s will host the lecture series of the fair, Christie’s Art Forum, focusing on broadening knowledge for Southeast Asian contemporary art and art historical movements.

Participating galleries are Altro Mondo, Archivo, Art Cube, Art Informal, Avellana Art Gallery, Blanc, Boston Gallery, CANVAS, Crucible, Equator Art Projects, Finale, Galleria Duemila, Light and Space Contemporary, Liongoren Gallery, Manila Contemporary, MO Space, NOVA, Now Gallery, Pablo, Paseo Art Gallery, Richard Koh Fine Art, Salcedo Private View, Secret Fresh, Silverlens, TAKSU, The Drawing Room, Tin-Aw, West Gallery, and 1335 Mabini.

Art Fair Philippines 2014 is copresented by Ayala Corp., Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe and Swatch.

Tikoy’s world of art

On a much smaller but equally amazing  scale  is the special exhibit titled “Tikoy’s Gift of Perspective” at Museo Pambata. Eleven-year-old artist Lance Basilio or “Tikoy” shares his world of art through several illustrations of buildings and landscapes, which he has been imagining and drawing since age 4.

Tikoy’s Gift of Perspective will be on display at Museo Pambata’s Changing Exhibits Hall inside the Children in the Global Village until today only. The museum is located on Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive in Manila. For more information, please call Museo Pambata at 5231797 or e-mail [email protected].

SECRET Fresh Gallery at Art Fair Philippines

Collectible coffee table book

Other visual resources for art and architecture are books. Lifestyles Asia launched the second edition of Home & Away, the collectible coffee table book featuring private spaces in the country and abroad. The second edition tells the visual story of residences, hotels and lodgings, covering a range of styles and character, according to Anna Sobrepeña, editor in chief of Lifestyle Asia.

Interiors showed the modern sensibility of restaurateur couple Rikki and Beng Dee, and the suburban charm in Donnie and Crickette Tantoco’s sprawling abode. Private homes of prominent personalities such as National Artist Pablo S. Antonio, architect Lor Calma, and Manny and Cynthia Villar are among the collection of fine homes.

Travelers will find special interest in the premium hotels and resorts that include the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, the Bulgari Resort in Bali, Lamai Serengeti in Tanzania. Interviews with different architects and designers on their respective projects provide design notes to make the read of Home and Away as much a reference as it is a pleasure.

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