Cover Narra Art Gallery located in the metaverse

Before the year finally ends, here's a review of the art stories we've covered over the past few months. Here's to celebrating the year that was!

This year, we have witnessed the return of Art Fair Philippines through the virtual route, highlighting the rise of NFTs in the digital arts community. Early this 2021, we have also seen the reopening of the Metropolitan Theater, Manila, the so-called 'grand dame' of art deco buildings in the country. Through its governing body, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, the performing arts scene continued to fare well in the digital space in lieu of a live audience. And then, we ended the year with the soft reopening of Ayala Museum after its two-year hiatus.

Galleries and museums have also continued their virtual exhibitions and auctions. Just last December in the Kingly Treasures auction of Leon Gallery, the late modernist painter Anita Magsaysay Ho cemented her title as the country's auction queen when her 1975 Fish Vendors drew rave reviews and reaped PHP50 million inclusive of buyer's premium.

See also: Bright Lights: Tatler Honours Maria Ressa, John Arcilla, and Roberto "Ka Dodoy" Ballon This 2021

Our roaring celebration of the arts scene in the country extends to our wins in the field of architecture and design. The Philippines received its first-ever award at the Venice Architecture Biennale with architects Sudarshan V. Khadka Jnr and Alexander Eriksson Furunes' Structure of Mutual Support. Filipino architect Carlo Calma, meanwhile, nabbed two category wins at this year's World Architecture Festival.

Everyone was also captivated by the Philippines Pavilion at the Dubai 2020 Expo that happened last October because of Budji Layug and Royal Pineda's Bangkóta, which was dubbed as 'a celebration of Filipinos' centuries-old creativity and ingenuity.' Architect J. Anton Mendoza also made headlines earlier this year with his redesign of the famed Casa Manila in Intramuros, Manila and Greenbelt 3 mall.

We must not also forget that this year, the renowned ABS-CBN Film Restoration project celebrated its 10th year anniversary. Despite adversaries, it continues to create invaluable work for Philippine cinema. Various film festivals that we've missed last year have also returned, thanks to the virtual screenings of KTX.ph, Upstream, the newly launched Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) channel, and Ticket2Me.

But perhaps the most celebrated news we've heard was John Arcilla's Volpi Cup win for his portrayal of the lead role in Erik Matti''s On The Job: Missing 8His win at the prestigious Venice Film Festival has put him in the ranks of the finest actors across the globe. Aside from this, there were also other local films that have earned recognition and accolades from various international award-giving bodies, just like our very first entry to the short film category of Sundance Film Festival: Excuse Me, Miss Miss, Miss by Sonny Calvento.

Related: Sundance Film Festival's First Filipino Short Film Entry: Sonny Calvento's "Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss"

We listed down ten of our most-read stories about the local arts scene. Check if there's anything you've missed!

1. Philippine Pottery: Its Origins, Influences, and What It Is Today

Tatler Asia
Above In Sagada, potters like Siegrid Bangyay makes use of locally sourced clay formed using traditional techniques

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2. A College Dropout Turned National Artist: Here's 5 Things You May Not Know About Ang Kiukok

Tatler Asia
Above Ang Kiukok's "The Fishermen" (1981) / Leon Gallery

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3. National Artist Trivia: Who Was Fernando Amorsolo?

Tatler Asia
Above Fernando Amorsolo (1892 - 1972) Lavanderas signed and dated 1954 (lower right) (Photo: Leo Cloma/Flickr)

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4. 500 Years Of Christianity In The PH: The Influence Of Catholicism In The Filipino Arts

Tatler Asia
Above "Resurreccion", (unsigned), circa 18th century, molave

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5. MET Museum: Its 45-Year-History and a Sneak Peek of its New Space at BGC, Taguig

Tatler Asia
Above The MET Façade in 1976

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6. Letras y Figuras: The 19th-Century Philippine Art Form's Origins And Legacy

Tatler Asia
Above Puente Colgante de San Miguel y album (Hanging bridge of San Miguel and album), dated 1850-1851, from Jose Honorato Lozano’s Album Filipino / Ayala Corporation Collection

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7. The National Artist Awards: Controversy, Winners, And Its Significance

Tatler Asia
Above The insignia of the Order of the National Artists is a Grand Collar with a medallion as a central badge | Photo courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines

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8. 10 of The Most Prominent Artists In The Philippines And Why You Should Know Them

Tatler Asia
Above "Fishermen", oil on canvas, 2002, 24” x 48”. Image courtesy of Leon Gallery.

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9. Trese: A Quick Guide On The Monsters Of Philippine Folklore—Who Is Friendly And Who Is Not?

Tatler Asia
Above Screencap from "Trese" / Netflix

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10. CCP 13 Artists Awardees: Who Are The Winners This 2021?

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'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 2 Work by Ryan Villamael. photo by Tatler Philippines at the Art Fair Philippines 2019
Photo 2 of 2 Ryan Villamael