Exciting exhibits at Leon and Joya galleries

PAINTINGS and artworks of different mediums are wonderful accents to any home or living space. The art scene in the country is thriving. Here are some of the exciting exhibits happening right now.

Leon Gallery puts the spotlight on 19th century art and antique at its exhibition entitled “Filipinos in the Gilded Age.” Jaime Ponce de Leon, the gallery’s proprietor, meticulously collected the remarkable pieces on display. Highlighting an important period in Philippine history, the curators of this noteworthy exhibition are Ramon Villegas, Tats Rejante Manahan and Lisa Guerrero Nakpil.

Starting today until July 20, the exhibition is open for viewing by appointment at Leon Gallery, G/F Corinthian Plaza, 120 Paseo de Roxas, corner Gamboa St. Legaspi Village, Makati City. Contact Leon Gallery at (02) 8562781 or [email protected] for more details about the display. The exhibition space was transformed to be reminiscent of a French salon during the 19th century using design elements and favored colors of that period.

One of the most striking details in the exhibition area is the chair rail in marble finish. This hand-painted design detail points out the revival of painted finishing during the 19th century. Underneath the chair rail is painted yellow ochre in strie finish.

Portraits

Prior to the 19th century, only royalty and nobility afforded portraits. As riches grew, it became quite valuable for accomplished people of that period to have their own portraits. It was a realization of individuality. Among the esteemed artists were our very own Juan Luna, Fabian de la Rosa and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo whose works are on display at the exhibition. It can be noticed that the framing of the portraits used intricate gold leaf designs which was a prevalent style of that time.

Adding to portraits, Filipinos of that period began to spend more on their homes. Paintings on Philippine and European scene depicted not only history, but also a mix of European and Filipino influences that became home accents.

Standout décor, exhibit pieces

Exquisite wood furniture with refined carving and marquetry are also standout décor and exhibit pieces. Using 19th century furniture establishes a classical look and feel. These pieces hold more respectable resale value. Collectors have become more knowledgeable in taste and have realized the importance in investing in key antique pieces like kamagong furniture or marble tables that blend nicely in modern interiors. Antique accents inject a sense of history; it gives personality, showcasing knowledge in one’s own culture and heritage.

For a more contemporary art scene, the Joya Gallery, the brainchild of 24-year-old gallerist Julian Ongpin, will be having a new offering featuring two Canadian-raised artists, Casper Kang and Jay Yao Campos III.

Joya’s new project “Chrysalis,” brings together two artists who have backgrounds and experiences outside of fine art. Jay Yao, a graduate of the Parsons design college currently runs Betur Inc., a design and branding agency, while Kang has completed notable design briefs for blue-chip companies such as Adidas, Absolut Vodka and Korean company Binggrae.

For this exhibit, both artists were called upon to provide select and commissioned works that have culturally relevant subjects. This is something that Kang has already gained acclaim for with his Architecturally bound “New-Myth” works and which Yao is making a foray into after a few recent offerings of mixed media works and collaborations. For “Chrysalis,” Yao started production of his series by first making silkscreens out of different fabrics portraying ancestral sites of the Philippines, and transplanted back into solid images through photography.

Chrysalis opens in Joya Gallery at the second floor of The Shops at Alphaland Makati Place on June 28 to Aug. 15. Viewings can be scheduled with Julian at 0915-1296901 or Lou Torres at 0917-5342464.