Cover The Newfolk ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit for Jia Curated, celebrating Filipino craftsmanship (Photo: stylised by Celine Dabao)
The Newfolk ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit for Jia Curated, celebrating Filipino craftsmanship (Photo: stylised by Celine Dabao)
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Celebrating Filipino craftsmanship, 27 furniture pieces curated by Newfolk will be on display at Pengembak Beach in Bali, Indonesia from August 13 to 17
The conversation around Filipino craftsmanship is an ever-evolving display of the ingenuity woven through each island of the archipelago. For this year’s iteration of Jia Curated, the Newfolk team will be displaying 27 objects by 11 designers and 10 heritage manufacturers at Pengembak Beach in Bali, Indonesia.
United under the theme of “Tomorrow”, Gabriel Lichauco and Anna Magsaysay Rosete have created a celebration of what makes Filipinos truly distinct: their joyful celebrations geared towards a hopeful future. The gathering of such distinctive pieces is a heartfelt letter home, blending elements of Filipino flora with the functionality that modern technology engenders.
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Above Flutter Floor Lamp by Bianca Carague and South Sea Veneer at the Tomorrow exhibit for Jia Curated
Flutter Floor Lamp by Bianca Carague and South Sea Veneer at the Tomorrow exhibit for Jia Curated
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Vertical streamers inscribed with the word “Kabayan” (fellow countrymen) will hang throughout the space, creating a festive atmosphere. Beneath them, the products will be featured on platforms and boxes that recall the Filipino custom of sending small treasures to loved ones abroad, or “padala”. These mementoes form distinct acts of love and generosity, connecting people across international and generational borders in much the same way as the pieces from this collection will.
The Filipino curation opens with Bianca Carague’s Flutter Floor Lamp, created in collaboration with South Sea Veneer, a Pampanga workshop with roots in wood lamination. This single repeating shape is clad in oak veneer, growing upward in layered clusters that evoke an unfolding flower.
Puddle Table by Chini Lichangco and JB Woodcraft Inc at the ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit for Jia Curated
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Nearby stands Chini Lichangco’s Puddle Table, which translates the stillness after rainfall into hand-carved ripples across a tabletop. This ingenious Filipino creation is designed to be flat-packed and assembled without a single screw, blending her playfully poetic forms with JB Woodcraft's nearly half-century of hand-carving expertise.
In case you missed it: JJ Acuña reimagines Filipino design in the new Parklinks Experience Center
Above Sail by Meyte Szita Chan for Senseware at the ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit for Jia Curated
Above Chimney Lamp by Nazareno/Lichauco at the ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit for Jia Curated
Sail by Meyte Szita Chan for Senseware at the ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit for Jia Curated
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Another piece to watch out for is the Sail series created by Meyte Szita Chan for Senseware. The traditional Binakol weave takes on a more modern spin with microfibre leather in a pixelated landscape, taking inspiration from the video game Dungeons. This marks a notable collaboration with Filipino artisans like S.C. Vizcarra, the hand-embroidery atelier founded in Manila in 1925 by Segundina Cornejo Vizcarra and now carried forward by her daughter.
Meanwhile, Nazareno/Lichauco's Chimney and Curtain collections, woven in wicker at that same Vizcarra workshop, extend the studio's long-running dialogue between architectural rigour and the weight of memory imbued in each textile.
Above Bato Bato Stick collection by Nazareno/Lichauco at the Tomorrow exhibit for Jia Curated
Bato Bato Stick collection by Nazareno/Lichauco at the Tomorrow exhibit for Jia Curated
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Another memorable Nazareno/Lichauco piece was done in tandem with Lamana. The Bato Bato and Stick draws from the whimsical resourcefulness of childhood, reflecting themes of play, memory and invention.
Seasons collection by Selena Placino and Venzon at the ‘Tomorrow’ exhibit for Jia Curated
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The Jia Curated exhibition is where Selena Placino will be unveiling the Seasons collection for Venzon. Here, powder-coated metal shades are cut with leaf-like patterns, offered in three finishes named Rest, Renew and Return. The elemental pieces serve as companions through the life cycle of a tree, allowing them—like the best furniture pieces—to flow seamlessly into the environment in which they find themselves.
Altogether, the Newfolk exhibit at Jia Curated is establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with on a global stage. Ancestral Filipino beliefs and traditions are challenged, reshaped and celebrated in infinite ways. As these notable young designers continue to pursue their crafts and create a strong community, they will continue to push for the bright and bold future that the Philippines deserves.
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
