Cover ‘Salaguinto’ by Kris Carlos on exhibition at Aphro Living (Photo: Studio 925)
‘Salaguinto’ by Kris Carlos on exhibition at Aphro Living (Photo: Studio 925)
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A community comes together, as metalsmithing workshop Studio 925 celebrates 10 years with ‘Mano Mano’, its first public exhibition
Studio 925 marks its 10th anniversary with its first-ever exhibition, Mano Mano. The show features work by students and instructors who have been quietly building a community around handmade metalwork over the past decade.
Founded as both a teaching space and a shared workshop, Studio 925 has grown into a hub for bench jewellers and metalsmiths working with traditional techniques. The exhibition brings to light pieces that, until now, have remained within the studio, including objects made in small batches and shaped by hand rather than machine.
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The show, which runs from June 25 until July 24, reveals a deliberate commitment to process. Arranged carefully along Aphro Living’s staircase-esque set-up, each piece in Mano Mano speaks to the values Studio 925 has upheld since its founding. These include care in making, continuity of technique and the ongoing development of the craft. Here, the act of hand-forging metal is dedicated to sustaining a way of working that allows for focus and technical growth, along with nurturing a community of passionate artists.
Guests can expect a range of work that spans skill levels and styles, reflecting the collaborative, educational environment of the studio. The exhibition is as much about the learning process as it is about the finished objects. The artists represented include Janina Villegas Arias, Mai Evangelista, Kris Carlos, Lilianna Manahan, Tiffany King, Melody Lim, Marco Kris Magallona, Vera Quita-Juan, Marti Juan, Marie Kinomes, Krizia Jimenez, Paolo Felices, Tzu Lin, Kenji Io, Koichi Io, Mariko Sumioka and Wataru Yamazaki.
‘Silver Incense Burner’ by Kenji Io on exhibition at Aphro Living (Photo: Studio 925)
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Classes at Studio 925 range from beginner silversmithing to advanced techniques, with occasional workshops led by international and local experts. The studio remains one of the few spaces in the Philippines dedicated to hands-on metalwork and jewellery design.
This exhibition is dedicated to Redenta “Eden” Villegas Arias.
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
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Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
