An exhibition unlike any other, The Art House brings community and Filipino culture to another level. The platform brings together nine visual artists from different parts of the world, standing together as part of the global Filipino diaspora.
Jana Benitez (US), Rose Cameron (US), Kim Cruz (US), Lizza May David (Germany), John Wayne Forte (US), Marissa Gonzalez (Switzerland), Rasco Jugarap (Belgium), Kulay Labitingan (UK), and Jaclyn Reyes (US) react, reflect, and respond to the life, praxis, and works of featured artist Nena Saguil, a Modernist and Abstract legend.
LAKBAY, curated by Marika Constantino and helmed by Carlo Pineda, was an idea born out of ART HOUSE’s desire to bring something refreshing yet resonant to the local art scene. Envisioned as a visual conversation and art experience that honors the stories of the Philippine diaspora, Lakbay will be held from February 8 to 12. The mezzanine of Discovery Primea will be home to never-before-seen works of modernist painter Nena Saguil.
Nena Saguil left her indelible mark on art history with her take on abstract and non-objective art, which she participated in at the “First Exhibition of Non-Objective Art in Tagala” organized by the Philippine Art Gallery in 1953.1 Despite the challenges posed by a male-dominated art scene at that time, she continued to dive into her practice with discipline and integrity.
Her hard work paid off with a grant from the Walter Damrosch Scholarship in 1954. This scholarship from the New York Foundation afforded her to study abstract non-objective art at the Ecole des Artes Americaine (School of American Arts) at the Palais de Fontainebleau in Paris, France. Her next stop was Spain. With assistance from the Spanish government, she researched ancient and modern Spanish art at the La Instituto de Cultura Hispanica (Institute of Spanish Culture)
Under the tutelage of surrealist Henri Goetz, through the Professor H. Goetz Award at the Academie de la Grand Chaumier, she continued her quest for self-expression while establishing new roots. Her small flat in the Saint Germain des Pres district eventually became her home for several decades until the remaining moments of her life. In her sanctuary, her explorations within her internal universe came to fruition.
ART HOUSE’s founder and CEO, Carlo Pineda, begins by saying, “I’ve always been an avid collector of Nena Saguil’s artworks. For Art Month, we wanted to present a different proposition–something
new and fresh. We were keen on bringing audiences stories and experiences not usually found
,in the local art market.” As a creative platform dedicated to cultural exchange and community
engagement, ART HOUSE endeavors to connect with global Filipinos through LAKBAY.
More than a showcase of global visual artists, the program creates a common ground for audiences and artists who share the experience of being home yet away from home. It aims to fill a void for those living in the diaspora, both the market and creators.
Carlo adds, “Our activities, whether it be through public art, explorations in materiality and
sustainable art, or reflections on digital art like NFTs, are always about creating collective
journeys and conversations. While others might want to gate-keep the artists from collectors, we
like to build spaces where both can interact, connect, and be part of one open, inclusive
ecosystem or community.
We’d like to think that our work as a platform helps to revitalize the patron-artist relationship.” Even its Institutional organizations and brands have resonated with this refreshing new approach to presenting Philippine art. Discovery Primea, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), and the British Council have partnered with ART HOUSE this Art Month.
In LAKBAY, for instance, the vision was to bring internationally established Filipino artists back
to the motherland. Apart from being an exhibition, it is an initiative that opens new doors for
exploration, engagement, and cultural exchange. “The journey doesn’t end when the show
closes. It also isn’t just limited to visual arts,” he says. If anything, it is only a prelude to
meaningful conversations surrounding Philippine culture, adding historical value and context to
programs created by ART HOUSE.
