UGOY installation at Intramuros on view
VISUAL ARTIST Kristine Lim mounts her third art installation in Intramuros, Manila titled UGOY. Set up in time for Mother’s Day and the election season, Ms. Lim made 18 cradle nests which are found in the grounds of Intramuros, Manila. The installation is mounted with a composition by Jonathan Manalo, the Creative Director of ABS-CBN Star Music. It is on view at Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila until May 31.
PETA Theater workshops offered
THE PHILIPPINE Educational Theater Association (PETA) is offering an online Creative Summer Program for teens and adults. Courses are scheduled from May 23 to June 10. To register, visit www.bit.ly/PETAWorkshopTeensAndAdults. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/PETATHEATER.
Ramon Magsaysay Awards collaborates with Linya-Linya
INSPIRED by 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Watchdoc, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) has teamed up with homegrown Filipino brand Linya-Linya on limited edition statement shirts to promote their advocacy for truth-telling in media. The shirt printed with the statement: “I Stand for Truth-telling in Media” is priced at P799. To order, visit https://www.linyalinya.ph/collections/rmaf/products/linya-linya-x-ramon-magsaysay-award-foundation-truth-telling-in-media.
CCP celebrates Amorsolo with Lego exhibit
TO commemorate the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Fernando C. Amorsolo as the First National Artist of the Philippines in Visual Arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in partnership with PinoyLUG, and with support from the Fernando C. Amorsolo Foundation, Inc., presents Project AMORsolo, an exhibition of Lego Bricks Mosaic artworks. The exhibit is on view until May 29 at the CCP’s Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater Lobby). The project, which commenced in 2021, was set into motion under Code Name: AMOR with three teams of Lego enthusiasts working separately on plates for three iconic Amorsolo paintings. For more information, contact the CCP Visual Art and Museum Division, Production and Exhibition Department, at e-mail vamd@culturalcenter.gov.ph or through social media pages www.facebook.com/ccpvamd, www.instagram.com/ccpvamd, www.twitter.com/ccpvamd.
Instituto Cervantes launches poetry recital
IN the First Online Recital of Hispano-Filipino Poetry, Instituto Cervantes de Manila brought together more than 100 poetry lovers who recited verses written in Spanish by Filipino poets. All the recorded recitations were compiled in a video that will be published on the Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/InstitutoCervantesManila) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila) of the Instituto Cervantes on May 11, 7 p.m. The recordings were part of its Día del Libro celebrations, a Spanish tradition where books and roses are exchanged and which Instituto Cervantes brought to Manila in 2006 where it has been regularly celebrated since. The selection of poems recited included “Canto de María Clara” by Jose Rizal, “Señorita provinciana” by Jesus Balmori, “Boceto” by Evangelina Guerrero, as well as contemporary poems “Seguir viviendo” by Guillermo Gomez Rivera and “Saudade” by Daisy Lopez, both of whom inaugurated the recitation of their respective poems. As a preview, here is the video of the poem “El canto de María Clara” by José Rizal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8F3vzanvJU.
Silverlens to hold Esquillo, Eustaquio exhibits
SILVERLENS will open two exhibits on May 19. They will both run until June 18. The first is “Bread and Circuses” by Alfredo Esquillo which reclaims the said phrase from a Roman writer about the two things that the Roman Emperor distracted the populace with to keep them happy — a full stomach and staging huge spectacles at the coliseum. He compares the Roman Empire to Philippine modern society since the 1970s to the current affairs surrounding us. Through paintings and sculptures, Mr. Esquillo reflects deeply, as he artistically essays recurring signs and symbols concerning politics, culture, and technology — in relation to misappropriated policies of our past and incumbent presidents — as we have been endowed with short memories of the past. The second is a new show by Patricia Perez Eustaquio of soft fabric sculptures and drawings on paper where the artist continues to dissect the binary oppositions found in the process of translation from one form to another. For this series, Ms. Perez takes portions from her digital loom tapestries and renders them in graphite as archipelagic fragments seemingly adrift on taupe, salmon, and gray paper. The use of colored paper and the compressed quality in the drawings are marked changes from her previous work where pig’s flesh, wilted flowers, or studio scraps were traced in sprawling and languid detail as if they were landscapes. Silverlens Galleries is at 2263 Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati. The gallery also announced that it has a new platform @silverlensgallery. “Turning a new leaf on Instagram, we seek to highlight a wide range of practices and expressions within contemporary fine art,” it said in a release.
Korean cultural center unveils mural
AFTER the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS)’s Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) opened its doors to the public on March 25, it also unveiled its resolution to promote the cultural exchange between Korea and the Philippines. In partnership with Metropolitan Museum, the KCC had mural artist Jappy Agoncillo create a mural that showcases the culture collaboration of Korea and the Philippines. Mr. Agoncillo wanted to incorporate the similarities and friendship of Filipinos and Koreans, and as thus, included national symbols from both countries. “For the color palette, I really want to look at the Korean traditional elements and colors, especially the palace colors. I really want to have those strong colors represent[ed] in the mural,” he said in a statement.
Dance Surge 5 goes virtual
THE FIFTH edition of Dance Surge, an interactive dance weekend, will comprise of a series of virtual workshops and masterclasses, culminating in an online inter-high school freestyle battle. Hosted by the Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company (SBRDC), it aims to make young movers experience the digital space of freestyle dancing as well as showcase and share their talents and techniques. Resident dancers, alumni, and choreographers from SBRDC-Hip Hop and Contemporary will impart their tricks and techniques, steps and special moves. Sofia Montinola, a classical ballet, hip hop and street jazz dancer, will facilitate free classes on contemporary dance. Meanwhile, Merwin Sampana will spearhead free sessions on choreography. Masterclasses will be guided by industry professionals. The highlight is the Inter-High-School Freestyle Battle of different dance troupes within and outside of Metro Manila. Dance Surge 5 will run from May 20 to 22. Interested participants may visit the official Facebook page of SBDC for more information.