NCCA Art in Public Spaces Exhibit @ SM Mall of Asia

ART IN PUBLIC SPACES: POST PHILIPPINE ART FESTIVAL

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) invites everyone to the "Art in Public Spaces: Post Philippine Art Festival," a week-long arts and culture event opening at 10 AM on Friday, March 8, 2008 at the SM Mall of Asia. Featuring websining installations, fine art photography exhibitions, multimedia performances and lectures by renowned artists, the Festival has something for everyone, be they students, enthusiasts, professionals or practicing artists.

Scheduled activities at the Festival kick off with a lecture on digital art by veteran artist Jose Tence Ruiz on March 8 at 3PM. Ruiz is an exhibiting artist whose work has been featured in several international venues such as the Havana Biennale, the Singapore Biennale, the Asia-Pacific Triennale, and University of Hawaii Art Gallery. Ruiz is a recipient of the CCP Thirteen Artists Award and Araw ng Maynila Award. A painting major from the University of Sto. Tomas, Ruiz is also a sculptor, multimedia artist, graphic designer, illustrator and curator, as well as a member of the Tutok Perspektiba art collective.

Highlighting the Festival is "Timeless IV," an exhibit featuring the work of master artist,photographer and printmaker Ross Capili, art photographer Jeff Cua and rising photography star Luis Martin Harder. "Timeless IV" opens with cocktails on March 9 at6PM.

Also on March 9 is a talk by travel photography stalwart George Tapan at 2PM. Tapan is a master photographer who is best known for his stunning signature photos of Philippine tourist destinations. His collection of provocative photographs of the Cordilleras is currently on exhibit at the Tam-Awan Village art space in Baguio City. From the moment his career took off in the mid-70's, Tapan's work can be found in airports, magazines, coffee-table books, postcards and in various offices of the Department of Tourism. Tapan has also conducted several workshops for photographers of every skill level and specialization.

Award-winning poet, visual artist and architect Sid Gomez Hildawa then takes the floor on March 10 at 2PM to give his lecture on digital art collage. Hildawa is a CCP Thirteen Artists Awardee as well as a member of the British Council Fellowship for Art and Architecture. His international exhibition credits include International Art Biennale of Havana and an Artist-in-Residency Program in Fujino, Japan. Apart from working on residential and occupational design projects, Hildawa is also a director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Visual, Literary and Media Arts Department.

An exciting and entertaining experience as well as an educational eye-opener, "Art in
Public Spaces: Post Philippine Art Festival" is one art extravaganza definitely not to be missed. The Festival opens at 10AM on Friday, March 8 at the Entertainment area of the 2nd Level South Activity Area, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia (outside the Premiere Cinema), and runs until March 14, 2008.