In this special edition of our monthly roundup of art events, we're giving you the lowdown on other cultural festivals you should not miss
This month, our calendar is filled not only with exhibitions of incredible Filipino artists but with different festivals as well. We've seen Francis Nacion in his 13th solo exhibition where, for the first time, he dabbled in the abstract, using his memories of his mother as inspiration. The recently concluded "ImaheNACION" at Art Lounge Manila in Molito, Alabang, featured Nacion's works of oil and textile on canvas, paying homage to his mother's love, hard work, and care for their family.
Meanwhile, CCP Thirteen Artists 2021 awardee Mars Bugaoan had a show at Art Cube Gallery, which ran until June 11. Titled "Wild", Bugaoan's exhibition explored the theme of growth by pondering on his personal memories and life journey, but "viewed from an external perspective", as mentioned in his exhibition notes.
Read also: Turning Trash to Treasures: Mars Bugaoan's Art Speaks of Life's Pains and Growth
One of the esteemed artist-run art schools and residency programs in the country, Linangan Art Residency, culminated its flagship program with a critic-panelled group exhibition. In this sixth edition of the 8 weeks-long mentored art residency in Cavite, the works of rising artists Aann Reynales from Quezon, Abril Valdemoro from Masbate, Clark Neola from Camarines Sur, Ledz Taboada from Cebu, JP Lopez and Manuel Gomez from Bulacan, Nika Dizon from Rizal, and fashion designer-turned-visual artist Rosenthal Tee were presented in the show titled "Patikim".
Lastly, last week, the annual Spectacular Mid-Year Auction of León Gallery just concluded. In this year's edition, we've seen go under the hammer Emmanuel Garibay's thought-provoking Black Saturday oil on canvas, the biggest and most important Ifugao hagabi we've ever laid eyes on, and a 22-carat gold funeral mask dating back to 10th to the 14th centuries, among others. National Artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco's Moriones Festival masterpiece from 1966 was sold for PHP 35 million, making another record for the artist!
Read also: Connoisseur of the Finer Things: Jaime Ponce de Leon of León Gallery
Here are some of the remaining art events you shouldn't miss this month:
1. Drawing Room Manila
Acclaimed artist Rodel Tapaya mounts his latest solo exhibition at The Drawing Room in Makati. In "May Tenga ang Lupa" (The Land has Ears), Tapaya uses the rich mythology and culture of the Philippines and weaves them into contemporary issues such as environmental damage, urban poverty, and land scarcity.
Read also: Rodel Tapaya Revisits His Artistic Roots in an Exhibition at Artinformal Gallery
Tapaya's works are characterised by visionary narrative tableaus that meld historical and personal references and folklore into painterly figurations. The artist draws upon forms of myth and the contemporary side by side in existence. They are a retelling and a continuation of his milieu's oral and pictorial tradition. His artistic process provides insight into an amalgam of pre-colonial culture and contemporary political ethos.
The exhibition runs from June 14 to July 9
