Cover These six wearable pieces of art are on display at ALT Philippines from February 22 to 25
These six wearable pieces of art are on display at ALT Philippines from February 22 to 25
1 / 1
These custom-made Moreau Paris tote bags are being auctioned off for the benefit of underprivileged youths in the Philippines
Creativity often stems from collaboration, and what better way to benefit a charitable cause than through this unique endeavour by Univers? The lifestyle concept store, founded by Jappy Gonzalez in 2011, has tapped six distinguished artists to collaborate with luxury brand Moreau Paris in a true convergence of fashion and contemporary art.
An exclusive curation of bespoke Saint Tropez and Bregancon totes is currently on exhibition at ALT Philippines from February 22 to 25 and will be auctioned off for charity. Proceeds will go directly to the Action for the Care and Development of the Poor in the Philippines (ACAP), a non-profit organisation aimed at providing an arts-centred education for underprivileged children.
The six artists, namely Costantino Zicarelli, Jigger Cruz, Johanna Helmuth, Luis Antonio Santos, Raffy Napay, and Yeo Kaa, were each given a Moreau bag to lend their own distinctive style to the project.
Read more: ALT Philippines returns, presenting the works of around 200 artists
Above Costantino Zicarelli, 'Tattoos on Green Skin', laser etching on leather on Moreau Bregancon MM, 2024
Above Jigger Cruz, ‘Untitled’, oil on Moreau Saint Tropez MM, 2024
Costantino Zicarelli, 'Tattoos on Green Skin', laser etching on leather on Moreau Bregancon MM, 2024
1 / 2
Above Raffy Napay, 'Stand and Together', thread on Moreau Saint Tropez MM, 2024
Above Luis Antonio Santos, 'skin:shadow', acrylic on unprinted linen, collage on Moreau Saint Tropez GM, 2024
Raffy Napay, 'Stand and Together', thread on Moreau Saint Tropez MM, 2024
1 / 2
The artists utilised their own mediums of expertise, from painting and embroidery to print and laser etching, to transform the bags into wearable masterpieces. Santos used a silk screen and linens to create collages wrapped around the bag. “It’s different because I’ve never worked with this form [of canvas] before. That was a challenge since usually I work with rigid structures.”
According to Gonzalez, the Moreau bag was the best canvas for the artists to display their work. “When you give an artist a blank canvas, you also need to give them some inspiration. I felt it was a good idea to have them do whatever they want with [the bag],” he relays. “We’re not supposed to see it as simply a bag but as a vehicle for art.”
More from Tatler: Wearable Art: Lakat Shoes joins forces with artists Garapata, Doktor Karayom, and Lilianna Manahan
Above Yeo Kaa, 'Safe and Basic', acrylic on Moreau Saint Tropez PM, 2024
Above Johanna Helmuth, 'What I Carry', oil on Moreau Saint Tropez MM, 2024
Yeo Kaa, 'Safe and Basic', acrylic on Moreau Saint Tropez PM, 2024
1 / 2
Though Univers prides itself on being a flourishing business, Gonzalez has always approached the enterprise as a platform for the expression of creativity. In the spirit of collaboration, he and his team worked with galleries to choose the six artists, all of them known for their contribution to the evolving plane of contemporary visual art. “It’s always about contributing something to society and culture.
Through this endeavour, patrons and attendees of ALT Philippines will have the opportunity to not only acquire a piece of exquisite artistry but also to make a difference in the lives of children in need.
NOW READ
Friday night with Fred Perry: Inside ‘Not Just for Lovers’ at Annex House Manila
The kids are alright: ‘Sinulid’ sets the standard for the future of Filipino fashion
Editor’s Picks: Over 100 artworks worth collecting at Art Fair Philippines 2024
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.
Work
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
