Cover The Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) is a government-owned institution responsible for producing France's coins. Founded in AD 864 with the Edict of Pistres, it is the world's oldest continuously running minting institution.
The Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) is a government-owned institution responsible for producing France's coins. Founded in AD 864 with the Edict of Pistres, it is the world's oldest continuously running minting institution.
1 / 1
In the spirit of the 75th anniversary of French-Philippine relations, Filipino contemporary artists are in Paris to make our country proud
East meets west as France hosts again another edition of its much anticipated Asia Now Paris which is dedicated to promoting artists from Asia. Happening from October 20 to 23, Asia Now brings to the City of Light the best of Asia's diverse and thriving contemporary art scenes. A short walk from the Louvre museum and the Bourse de Commerce-PInnault collection is the sprawling estate Monnaie de Paris which is over 1.2 hectares on the left bank of the majestic Seine river.
"Asia Now continues its exploration of the Asian Art scenes by expanding to Central and West Asia for its 8th edition," it says in its statement. The renowned Paris-Asian art fair features over 70 galleries presenting international artists from Asia and beyond.
Above Asia Now Paris highlights in 2021
"During this fair, this vast venue will be reimagined as a creative village, featuring collaborative, artistic, ecological, and agricultural experiences, inspired by the interdisciplinary performances of the artist Natsuko Uchino," the organisers wrote.
This year's theme is aptly titled Feux de Joie, which means "Flames of Joy", encompassing the arts of earth and fire. "At the core of this edition lies the creation of a sense of community through a collective artistic experience."
Above Mark Nicdao
Mark Nicdao
1 / 1
One of the Filipino artists who is having exhibited works at Asia Now is the acclaimed photographer and visual artist, Mark Nicdao. Represented by Rivoli Fine Art, Nicdao shares his latest paintings that showcase the mastery of his unique style of swirling colours that exude psychedelic experience.
"This new collection indeed displays new purposes, violent emotions exploding in large spirals to the infinite, which the artist then interprets by covering them through a microscopic approach. Let’s not forget the pictorial obsession of the photographer: a passion for detail," Rivoli Fine Art wrote in its exhibition notes.
"Anatomy of the hidden self, solid structures swallowed by nuclear disintegration, remaining volutes after the inner Big Bang, that is what it is all about and needs to be done again and again," it continues.
Read also: Rivoli Fine Art Presents Mark Nicdao at Asia Now Paris 2022
"Map to the Nuclear Star", 2022, Paris, acrylic on canvas, 150 cm x 150 cm
1 / 3
As Nicdao has only begun exploring his visual artist side, this would be his first international art fair participation.
Meanwhile, there is a Filipino gallery that happens to have their third time participating at Asia Now. Makati-based art gallery Vinyl on Vinyl is at the Paris-Asian art fair, co-owner and head curator Gaby Dela Merced happily relayed to Tatler.
"It has been our favourite fair since and I think we are the only gallery from the Philippines this time," she said. And that is true indeed! As the sole Filipino gallery at Asia Now, Vinyl on Vinyl arrived with seven established artists in the Philippine contemporary art scene, with two of them doing a live performance vis-a-vis art installation.
Vinyl on Vinyl features the works of Martin Honasan, who is known for his textured mixed media paintings that combine photorealistic portrait imagery with abstraction and distressing; Teo Esguerra, whose works are largely based on the Japanese concepts wabi-sabi and mono no aware; Iyan De Jesus, who presents dazzling illustrations of mechanical romanticism layered with lyrical symbolism; Cian Xavier, a self-taught artist who plays between the charming and grotesque in her sculptures; Is Jumalon, renowned for her large scale drawings in charcoal and soft pastel; TRNZ (Terence), a versatile visual artist who is known for his character-centred illustrations, sculptures, garments, and more.
The highlight of the Vinyl on Vinyl booth is the installation and performance art of Jellyfish Kisses (the persona of artist Anton Belardo). Titled "Tiny Worlds", the live installation features a compact bedroom space that the artist will inhabit as a durational performance throughout the course of the exhibition. It intends to represent Jellyfish Kisses' personal experience in 2020 and 2021, during the exceedingly strict lockdowns in Asia. "Tiny Worlds" is part of Belardo's never-ending endeavour to develop and create work that shares a process of communal healing with audiences.
Read also: Loud and Proud: Drag Race PH's Precious Paula Nicole Reveals Her True Colours on Stage
Above "Indoor exercise", 2022, Elmer Borlongan, acrylic on canvas, H 91,5 x 61 cm
"Indoor exercise", 2022, Elmer Borlongan, acrylic on canvas, H 91,5 x 61 cm
1 / 1
Lastly, the contemporary art master Elmer Borlongan leads the Filipino contingent in showcasing the Philippine visual art scene by mounting a solo show outside Asia Now Paris 2022 and its larger counterpart Paris+ par Art Basel. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of France-Philippine relations, the embassies of the two countries and Gallery Géraldine Banier helped Borlongan make his first solo show in Paris.
Béatrice de Rochebouet wrote in Borlongan's exhibition notes: "Produced during the Covid years, his new series draws on his past experiences and observations but is more introspective. . ."
Above "Melancholia", 2022, Elmer Borlongan, acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122 cm
"Melancholia", 2022, Elmer Borlongan, acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122 cm
1 / 1
Borlongan has been known for his talent in shelling out the 'colours' of the heart in his figurations' emotions and movement. "[His] characters embody those years when 'When Time Stood Still', showing some fifteen new paintings and monotypes," wrote de Rochebouet.
"Still imprinted with those of the streets of Manila, then of the countryside of Zambales, these have taken on a more timeless and universal dimension after the weight of the pandemic," she continued. "This exhibition is an opportunity to better understand the work of this artist, one of the most highly rated of his generation on the Asian market but less known in Europe, while he continues to work tirelessly in his studio in Zambales where he plans to host artist residencies.
The renowned Filipino artist may have felt the urge to express himself, and society in extension, because of the shared experience during the pandemic. Albeit literally meant, one can't help but notice that his title reminds us of Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time novels. Deliberate it may be or not, it is proof that France and the Philippines have a deep relationship artistically, and the countries continue to journey together to strengthen it and explore its possibilities.
NOW READ
Linangan Art Residency: Sharpening Talents and Shaping a Community
About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
