#artnow: The Poliform Collection of International Contemporary Art

As its initial offering for 2023, the Center for Campus Art presents “#artnow, a mix of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and figures from the Poliform collection of international contemporary art. It will be on view at the 12F Gallery of Benilde’s Design and Art Campus from Feb 10-May 5, 2023.

The collection is on loan to the De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde from businessman Tim Tan, one of the owners of Poliform, a leading distributor of Italian furniture and lighting in the country. #artnow hopes to inspire a new generation of artists and designers through the work of some of the most provocative and groundbreaking practitioners in the art landscape today. Among those chosen from the collection is the collab between art and design icons Takashi Murakami and the late Virgil Abloh, an intriguing Tracey Emin in neon, George Condo’s example of Psychological Cubism, a beguiling portrait of a woman preparing for a party by young artist Grace Weaver, and a mysterious figure in purple by Czech artist Vojtech Kovarik. Completing the list are the paintings of Brian Calvin, Emma Cousin, Jonathan Edelhuber, Camilla Engstrom, Tomoo Gokita, Bambou Gili, Jennifer Guidi, Ania Hobson, Jordy Kerwick, Tahnee Lonsdale, Tania Marmolejo, Mia Middleton, Tom Sachs, Charlie Roberts, Jess Valice, Theo Viardin, and Mark Whalen. Sculptures by Javier Calleja and Nicolas Party complete the exhibit, with three Small Lies figures by KAWS to be given away as prizes for an Instagram contest.

Providing an academic response to the show are the students of Benilde’s Industrial Design program who were tasked to create soft toys inspired by the collection. Guided by their mentor Budji Tresvalles, the students harnessed the artwork in their exploration of the relational intersections between art and design.

The Center for Campus Art or CCA curates exhibits for the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and provides creative guidance in the design and implementation of special projects for the school. The CCA installs its major exhibits thrice a year at the 12F Gallery of the Design and Art Campus and in the six buildings of the Benilde Manila campus that interface with the public, adhering to the belief that learning continues outside the classroom.