This year’s Art Fest, with the theme “Stronger Together: The Art of Possibilities,” hosted the most awaited art-for-a-cause contest, featuring over 2,000 artworks, 60 galleries, and featured artists represented.
Qube Gallery was awarded the grand prize for “Best In Show,” followed by YOD Gallery as the first runner-up and Ysobel Art Gallery as the second runner-up, out of the 60 galleries in the country during the Xavier Art Fest. The “Best In Show” judges were Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, doctor Steve Lim and artist Jigger Cruz.
Pia Mercado from Qube Gallery expressed that she felt very proud to have won the award and, at the same time, proud also for introducing a Cebuano artist, Ivy Marie Apa, to the art fest. She added that they actually won it together as a team, including Maris Holopainen and herself as the gallery directors, Patricia Borres and Paulette Neri as junior gallerists, and Apa, the artist who was also very hands-on in working with them on the booth design for the fair.
The title of the exhibition, “Mythologies,” is inspired by Roland Barthes’ cue in “Mythologies.” The artist rereads it as a work about tradition instead of ideology, a dialogue with Greco-Judeo-Christian tradition as it is iterated or survived, rather, by the capitalist system and its critical interlocutors. Apa’s rereading of “Mythologies,” curated by Nomar Miano, is an exhortation for transvaluation, as in Nietzsche’s work.
Since its inception in 2013, Qube Gallery has positioned itself as a major player in the Philippine contemporary art community through its active physical and online exhibition programming, network links, and participation in international art fairs.
It’s a clear manifestation that it has been proving its vision and mission throughout the contests it joins. The gallery aims to promote Filipino artists beyond the local archipelagic reach and to develop an international art dialogue by featuring foreign artists who have a close affinity to the Philippines.
As Pia Mercado gave advice to these growing artists, she said, “Don’t just rely on your talent. The art world is competitive and fast-paced. You need to adapt and move fast. Don’t take things personally since art is subjective. Professionalism is a powerful quality we look for in an artist.”
All submitted works were exhibited and subsequently sold to raise funds for beneficiaries, including the Fr. Zuloaga Faculty Emergency Medical Fund, Para Kay ‘Cher Fund, Xavier Educational Trust, and other causes. The event culminated on Jan. 27 to 29, located at Xavier School San Juan Sports Center and Quadrangle.
The three-day event featured powerful paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, and, of course, art galleries, which showcased the competitiveness and passion of Philippine artists who participated in the contest proper.