south arts festival
FEATURED ART
MUSHROOMS (OBST)
Yayoi Kusama
2003
Acrylic on Canvas
24.2 x 33.3 cm
Affectionately referred to by some as “the princess of polka dots”, Yayoi Kusama channelled childhood hallucinations of flowers speaking to her into a life of conceptual art infused with Feminism, Minimalism, Surrealism, Art Brut, Pop Art, and Abstract Expressionism. Today she is the world’s top-selling female artist.
“A polka-dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colorful, senseless and unknowing. Polka dots can’t stay alone; like the communicative life of people, two or three polka dots become movement…polka-dots are a way to infinity” - Yayoi Kusama
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF ART
Artists of Color Parade Exhibit with South Arts Festival's JJ Duque
L-R; Kate Tinamisa, Tates Estrella Cannon, Millet Sacerdoti, Bea Viado, JJ Duque, Alvie Gaudino, Red "Pula" Pates
CRIMSON HOTEL LAUNCHES COLOR PARADE EXHIBIT TO CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH
Crimson Hotel Filinvest City in partnership with South Arts Festival recently launched Color Parade, an art exhibit that featured artists who are members and allies of the LGBTQA+ community in celebration of Pride Month this June 2024. The ehxibit opened on June 12 and will continue to run until July 7, 2024. The colorful art exhibits marks the third time that Crimson Hotel and South Arts Festival have come together to celebrate Pride Month and honor this community and their civil rights.
Apart from the exhibit, Crimson Hotel also has some perks throughout the month in celebration of Pride Month. There will be drag comedy shows plus a lot of other offerings for staycation and dining packages. Colorful rainbow treats and special cocktails will also be highlighted.
Among the artists participating in the Color Parade exhibit include Millet Sacerdoti, Kate Tinamisan, Red "Pula" Pates, Tates Estrella Cannon, Alvie Gaudino and Bea Viado. Millet Sacerdoti, who leads the GS Art Studio Tagaytay and is a member of the United Women Artists Association of the Philippines (UWAAP) is a proud ally of the LGBTQA+ community as she supports family members who are part of the community.
South Arts Festival organizer JJ Duque curated the exhibit once again.
"I've been partnering with Crimson Hotel Filinvest for many years. Our partnership has brought exhibits to celebrate Women's Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Pride Month each year. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to address and support these diverse issues through the expression of art, and I am thankful for the artists who participate in this exhibits," Duque explained.
To view the photo gallery and the art catalog from the exhibit, please click the appropriate links below.
Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon (center in white shirt and glasses) and South Arts Festival organizer (stnding 2nd to the left) poses with some of the artists who ran an all-women booth through GS Art Studio Tagaytay and Raeche Art.
South Arts Festival: A Celebration of The Arts
The South Arts Festival recently wrapped up its 7th edition (sans the pandemic year of 2020) this May 11 & 12, 2024 at The Filinvest Tent, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The two-day art festival celebrated various forms of the arts in its return to The Filinvest Tent. The honorable Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon dropped by the opening and went around with South Arts Festival big boss JJ Duque to visit each booth to welcome the artists and get a first look on the art fair's artistic offerings.
[View the welcome message of Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon by clicking here]
The art fair brought about hundreds of artists from all over the country to share their colorful and creative expressions through paintings, sculptures, drawings, jewelry, crafts, accessories and so much more. Some of the top contemporary artists of the country that took part were the likes of GSIS National Museum Art Competition multi-champion Sam Penaso, the father of miniature paintings Nelson Castillo, prominent contemporary artists Norlie Meimban, Janddie Castillo, Fitz Herrera, Michael Pastorizo, Marlon Magbanua, Ombok Villamor, JJ Duque and Binong Javier, top sculptors like Meroy Castrillo, Marlon Luceñara and Richard Buxani, talented female painters like Nicole Asares, Raeche, Millet Sacerdoti, Rachel Le Roux and Valerie Teng just to name a few. Art groups representing various parts of the country made their presence felt, such as Bastedor Art Project, Blackbox PH, The Cebu Artists' Collective, Bohol-Buhol, Benguet-based Pugad ni Art Studio, Piskay Art Group from Tagbilaran City, GS Art Studio Tagaytay and Hubog Sining from Cainta, Rizal. Of course, art galleries also shared the stage with the likes of Quadro Art Gallery, Nami Art Gallery, Fifty-One Collective Art-Haus and Obra Galleria there to represent. There was even a traditional mambabatok tattoo artist from Kalinga named Den Wigan, who shared his skills on those who wanted some new skin art.
Various arts were also promoted to compliment the art fair; such as a Filipiniana cultural dance performance by the Muntinlupa Yaman ng Kalinangan Dance Company; a panel discussion on poetry that also featured spoken word performances by LKN, Indigo Pai, Abet Umil, Hannah Pabilonia and Serge Sandigan; with the art of music given some expression through DJs Herbie Walton and John Wink.
Another important activity during South Arts Festival was the collaborative painting initiative of Search Mindscape Foundation to benefit ACAP (Action for the Care and Development of the Poor in the Philippines). Children of the ACAP program were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience as they were able to paint alongside some of the country's more prestigious painters. The kids were mentored, tutored and allowed to express themselves with the veteran pro artists adding a touch of their creativity to the works as well. At one point, several artists combined to add their little bit of expression to a unique collaborative piece. The art works created will soon be auctioned with the proceeds to benefit ACAP.
South Arts Festival would like to thank Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Muntinlupa City Tourism, Culture and The Arts Department, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Explore Muntinlupa, Bagwings, Cityneon Philippines, RG Events, Filinvest Lifestyle Malls, Filinvest Land inc., Alveo and The Filinvest Tent. Thanks to all the participating artists, guests and supporters.