CUE FROM LIFE ITSELF: FOUND OBJECTS

February 8 to May 7, 2020

Cue From Life Itself reflects on the instinctive way Filipino artists make do and dream up, transforming everyday forms with intuition and insight, and in their critical awareness of the material conditions of their milieu and ecology. Curated by art historian and scholar Patrick D. Flores, the title is lifted from a monograph by artist, educator, and cultural advocate Brenda Fajardo, who frames the concept of "aesthetics of poverty" through the artist’s responsiveness to an encompassing but transformable world.

Inscapes: A Retrospective by Agnes Arellano

Agnes Arellano looks back into her 36 years of practice in Inscapes. Combining several sculptures created from 1983 to 1996, Arellano retraces her life's journey through works that dwell on the themes of Sacred Feminine, Eros, yin and yang, mythology, and psychology among other inspirations.

TFI x Kristoffer Ardeña

Feb 15

Join Kristoffer Ardeña and Tropical Futures Institute this Saturday February 15th, 3PM for their Art Fair Philippines 2020 preview featuring a small run of hand screened and painted t-shirts by the artist along side some of works that will be on exhibition at this year’s fair. Tropical Futures Institute will be presenting a solo presentation of Kristoffer Ardeña’s works at this years Art Fair Philippines in a show titled “Basahan”, exhibition notes as follows: Kristoffer Ardeña explores the idea of adaptive reuse and models of circularity in his upcoming solo presentation at Artfair Philippines 2020 with Tropical Futures Institute. “Basahan” represents work based on the socio economic conditions that surround Ardeña’s studio and practice. Material scarcity and abundance also reflect ideas of dystopia/utopia and new frameworks in which we could be approaching material manufacturing in order to combat waste and outdated modes of production. The concept of ‘basahan’ is ubiquitous in the Philippines, we see it everyday, we touch it everyday. The practicality and simplicity of the upcycled object holds ideals of the future and carries a distinct symbol woven into each piece. From the color combinations, the basketball jerseys and the synthetic fibers. The journey, combination and deconstruction of the materials in ‘Basahan’ offers another look at the beauty in the everyday object. Tropical Futures Institute (856G)

Curatorial Development Workshop Exhibitions

7 December 2019 to 7 March 2020

The Japan Foundation, Philippine Contemporary Art Network, and University of the Philippines Vargas Museum present the culmination of the 2018 Curatorial Development Workshop. The exhibitions curated around the central concern of ‘space’ by the five participants Karl Albais, Pristine De Leon, Jay Nathan Jore, Carlos Quijon, Jr., and Christian Tablazon which is on view at the museum’s 1st and 3rd Floor Galleries, and 2nd Floor Video Rooms until 7 March 2020.

Transcendental Mervy Pueblo x Atsuko Yamagata

Until Feb 23

Mervy Pueblo and Atsuko Yamagata, visual artists based in Manila, have met, created and exhibited their works at the recently concluded 7th international art festival called the Nakanojo Biennale in Japan last September 2019. Working both individually during their artist in residency of the biennale, Pueblo and Yamagata have realized projects that respond to the physical and nonphysical realm. Pueblo’s installation is interjected with coded references, creating socially charged mysterious draperies that function as a portrait of our contemporary reality. Yamagata playfully explores animist processes and presents a materialistic definitions of the immaterial just like how one’s journey is recorded by one’s own footprint. Transcendental offers an immersive experience that sets the space for an examination of one’s own values and of the indelible tracks that continues even after one’s presence is relinquished.

The Asian Cultural Council Art Auction 2020

February 15-21, 2020

Leon Gallery G/F Eurovilla 1, Legazpi Street cor Rufino, Legazpi Village, Makati