Thrilla Manila by Tilt & Mist @ Secret Fresh

Thrilla Manila

Two-man show by Tilt and Mist

Opening : December 11, 2011 Sunday 6PM

Exhibit Duration : 11 December 2011 – 3 January 2012

Secret Fresh

Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan

It had been 36 years ago since the historic match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the heavyweight title that was fought long and hard at Araneta Coliseum in 1975. Dubbed Thrilla in Manila, the epic bout had the two long standing rivals fighting fiercely for the belt and earning the victor a mall named after him. The mall became a de facto landmark for a brewing underground of old skool skaters playing hooky back in the 1980s leaving skid marks on railings and concrete steps and benches with mall guards on their heels quelling in vain the harbinger of anarchic hypertext that will eventually occupy blocks of the increasingly dense metropolitan Manila. From juvenile proclamations of being to anti-authoritarian self-righteous shout-outs, they all evolved into a symbiotic interplay of skin and structure surface and interface, landscape and context, text and meta-text in a parallel development of graffiti and street art culture here in Manila. Bouts are now fought territorially, on the perennially grimy surfaces competing attention with tarp billboards and civic sponsored public art, and tags and spray painted marks fiercely creep in in the frenzy of this hypertextualized city.

December 11 Sunday at Secret Fresh marks the reunion not between ferocious rivals but between long time collaborators to the city they keep coming back to where they have left their marks. Tilt and Mist, French graffiti artists based in France had been coming to Manila since 2004. Tilt’s trademark bubble fonts and Mist’s pointy-edged vivid tags had been spread out alongside the marks of local graffiti artists in Intramuros, A. Bonificao, San Juan, Cubao and in the wherewithals of rundown walls of metropolitan Manila which had been otherwise whitewashed or plastered by campaign posters or spraypainted over by other graffiti crew. They have also been collaborating with Movement 69, a small loose collective of local street artists composed of Whoop, A.lien, Tripp 69, Exld, Egg Fiasco and Nemo.

The exhibit Thrilla Manila will be featuring Tilt’s and Mist’s paintings and giclee prints incorporating Filipino icons with their graffiti style as what Tilt had done with the Philippine flag which was formed with Filipino text written in his bubble style font in such a manner that reinforces iconographic meaning with his interspersed bubble text, while Mist’s more abstract calligraphic style is a ponderous exercise on font as an organic form evolving into figures with distinct personalities.

Tilt and Mist’s collaborations extend beyond massive wall bombings to customizing art toys and an ice cream cart specially built for their exhibit at Secret Fresh.

Tilt and Mist is mostly identified with old school style graffiti .

Mist has been in the graffiti scene since the late 1980s and was part of the graffiti crew Control of Paris in 1992. With a formal background in design and a stint at a toy company, he has also developed his own character Debilz. His style, the ‘devil style’ is characterized by big outlines, vibrant hues, horns and pointy-limbed figures. His lettering likewise exhibits the same pointy features consequently having a life of its own and becoming characters themselves. He is being represented by Galerie Le Feuvre and Speerstra gallery in Europe. And spends most of his time in Montpeliier

Tilt is an internationally recognized graffiti artist originating from Toulouse in South France. A self-declared “graffiti fetishist”, he learned the trade in the streets and on trains as a youngster. In the time since he did his first tags on a skateboard ramp back in 1988, his ensuing career has been nourished and influenced by extensive travel. Inspirational journeys have seen Tilt exhibit and leave his mark as far and wide as the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand,Laos, Taiwan, China, Canada, Philippines, Indonesia, the Maldives, and throughout Europe. He designed one of the watches collaborated on by Kidrobot and Swatch which was launched this year at Secret Fresh.

Thrilla Manila will open on December 11 Sunday at 6 PM and will be on view until January 3, 2012.

Secret Fresh is at Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills, San Juan, MM.
Secret Fresh is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 2 to 10PM and Sundays from 1 to 6PM.
For more information about the show you may contact 570 9815 loc 7 or email secretfreshinfo@gmail.com or check them online for updates through their website http://secretfresh.net/ or thru Facebook http://www.facebook.com/secretfresh or http://www.twitter.com/freshmanila.

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Rizal in Ateneo, Ateneo in Rizal @ Ateneo Art Gallery

Rizal in Ateneo, Ateneo in Rizal, an exhibit in commemoration of Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday, will be on show until March, 2012 at the Temporary Exhibition Space of the Ateneo Art Gallery.

Curated by Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, the exhibition showcases Rizal artifacts in the Rizal Library Special Collections and the Ateneo University Archives.

Also, please take note that the Ateneo Art Gallery will be closed from 18 December 2011 to 03 January 2012 for the Christmas break.
Regular gallery and office hours will resume on 4 January 2012.

For more information you may email ijaucian@ateneo.edu or dgaring@ateneo.edu .




Level 2 Rizal Library Special Collections Building

Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City

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Nick Deocampo Docus on Show

UP Film Institute is proud to present a twin-bill of Nick Deocampo’s films for its Spotlight on Docus event this December. On view at the Videotheque of UPFI Film Center in UP Diliman is the back-to-back showcase of Private Wars and The Sex Warriors and the Samurai on Dec 13 Tue and Dec 14 Wed at 2:30/4:30/6:30 p.m.

Winner of the Audience Prize at the 1997 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, Private Wars is a personal chronicle of Deocampo’s search for his missing father. Produced by Formation Films for Channel 4 London in 1995 and winner of a string of awards from Film Academy of the Philippines, Tokyo’s Image Forum Festival and the Video Mondial - Brussels, The Sex Warriors and the Samurai tells a candid story of a Filipino transvestite in Japan’s entertainment center.

University of the Philippines Film Institute
UP Diliman, Quezon City
filminstitute.upd.edu.ph

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Pinoy Fauvist Hits the Town with "Out of Town"

Pinoy artist Jake Catah lights up the town this December 9, 2011, 6pm with his 5th solo exhibit, “Out of Town” at the Ysobel Art Gallery, 2nd floor, The Shops at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Catah, 36, is a self-described Fauvist. His latest work reflects the colorful vibrancy of his favored genre but with tinges of surrealism thrown in for good measure.

“I suppose there are hints of Dali in there,” says Catah, referring to the Spanish surrealist painter. “But it’s all Filipino as far as I’m concerned. I may be influenced by western styles but my aim is to preserve Filipino culture and traditions through my artwork. It’s one of my missions as a Filipino artist - to uphold Filipino dignity.”

“Out of Town” is certainly Filipino. Its focus is the all-familiar road trip, something Pinoys can readily identify with. From twisting rides through the Philippine countryside to mind-bending airplane rides through the urban sky, Catah captures the quintessential Pinoy activity – traveling – with a deft eye and incisive heart.

“I create moments I would like to cherish,” he explains. “And I want my viewers to feel a positive outlook in life too – which is why my paintings are vividly colored and subjects are family and love. With ‘Out of Town’, however, I’m not only making feel-good moments. I’m exploring the theme of traveling and movement, whether it’s the physical experience of driving with the wind in your hair, or the spiritual change we all experience as we live and journey through life.”

Catah’s work, like the theme of his exhibit, is also evolving. “I’ve been painting for 12 years now. It’s all I do. And I’m happy for the progress and success I’ve been given. ‘Out of Town’ is probably a reflection of my own voyage as a human being, my own travels up steep hills and down winding roads. It’s a journey I’m enjoying and I hope others have as much fun experiencing my work as I have creating it.”

“Out of Town” runs from the 9th to the 22nd of December. For inquiries, please call/email 09285071117, 09332227952 or ysobelartgallery@yahoo.com.

About: Ysobel Art Gallery started last March 2011. It is home to a vast collection of art work from various established and upcoming artists. Its collection leans more towards contemporary art.

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NCCA Sets the Stage for Philippine Arts Festival 2012

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA)—the country’s prime agency for arts and culture—is gearing up for the 2012 Philippine Arts Festival (PAF), a month-long fete that will banner the flagship projects of the seven committees of the NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts (SCA), embracing architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, dramatic arts and visual arts.

Under its chairman, Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., the NCCA has taken the theme “Tradisyon at Inobasyon”(Tradition and Innovation) for next year’s celebration, which aims to further advance local creativity in the arts. PAF will feature workshops, exhibitions, forums and performances by practitioners of the arts and will take place all over the country. Eminent local and foreign artists will take part in this biggest and grandest month-long cultural gathering.

The annual celebration of National Arts Month began with the signing of Presidential Proclamation 683 in 1991, declaring February as National Arts Month. Through the years, the NCCA in partnership with various private and government agencies have organized events and activities to highlight Filipino artistic excellence and creativity.

Popular television and film icons Boy Abunda and Dingdong Dantes have lent their stellar power for the 2011 festival as NCCA Art and Youth Ambassadors, respectively. For 2012, they will be joined by Piolo Pascual as NCCA Culture Ambassador to further popularize the festival.

Next year’s PAF will emphasize the interface of traditional and contemporary art forms and genres. A festive launching is set at the Rizal Park, to be highlighted by a kite making workshop, kite flying, and sumptuous samplings of the seven arts. Closing the PAF is the Ani ng Dangal awarding ceremony that will recognize the contribution of individuals and institutions to the promotion of Filipino cultural heritage.

During the entire month of February, the public is invited to come and witness the seven arts committees present their flagship projects.

Architecture

The Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts, headed by Architect Gerard Lico, will be holding several exhibitions, conferences, lectures and competitions to mark the celebration. The exhibitions will revolve around themes and topics on the morphology of Filipino buildings, Philippine styles, the works of IP Santos, and discourses on design. These events are under the “Achi[types/texts] 2012” project. Some of the exhibits include “Salumpuwit, Bangko, Silya, Atbp.: A History of Chairs in the Philippines”; “La Vida Verde: The Landscape Architecture of National Artist IP Santos”; and “Imeldific Modernity: A Dictatorship of Style.” There will also be a design competition on architectural innovation for architecture students, as well as conferences, and lectures.

Cinema

The National Committee on Cinema, headed by Dr. Miguel Rapatan, will be holding CinemaRehiyon 4 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The festival features screenings and forums that focus on the artistic endeavors in filmmaking from the regions. Dubbed as the “biggest countryside/regional film festival,” Cinemarehiyon films gathers the best and emerging filmmakers from Luzon to Mindanao. It will happen from February 8 to 11, 2011.

Dance

The National Committee on Dance, headed by Shirley Halili Cruz, will be presenting Sayaw Pinoy, the longest-running Arts Month flagship project and is considered as one of the most attended, widely-successful, and much-anticipated event. Now on its ninth year, Sayaw Pinoy will continue to spread the beauty of dance in various areas all over the country. It will be participated by top dance groups from Manila vis-à-vis the emerging groups from the regions.

Literary Arts

The National Committee on Literary Arts, headed by Dr. Priscilla Macansantos, will mount the literary arts festival Taboan in Pampanga and Baguio. Taboan 2012: Philippine International Writers Festival will gather writers and readers for panel discussions, lectures, book fair, literary readings and performances, and many more. It will happen from February 9 to 11, 2012. Taboan events in the past were held in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao City.

Music

The National Committee on Music, headed by Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., will be staging the First Asian Festival of Gongs and Bamboo Music in Cagayan de Oro City, Iloilo City and Baguio City. It will gather local and foreign gongs and bamboo ensembles for performances and workshops. It will be from February 20 to 24, 2012, in Cagayan de Oro, and from February 25 to 28 in Baguio and Iloilo.

Dramatic Arts

The National Committee on Dramatic Arts, headed by Lutgardo Labad, will be holding the Tanghal 2012, focusing on community-based theater groups, in Calamba City, Cebu City, General Santos City and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It will bring the best and emerging university and community-based theater groups together for the celebration.

Visual Arts

The Committee on Visual Arts, headed by Nemesio Miranda, will be holding the Philippine International Visual Arts Festival (PIVAF) in the town of Angono, dubbed as an “Art Capital of the Philippines”. In 2012, it will have “Rizal” as theme, calling it the Philippine International Visual Arts Festival: The Rizal Experience (PVAF: TRE). Happening from February 17 to 20, 2012, PVAF: TRE will have a lineup of activities throughout the province of Rizal—conferences, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, painting sessions, scenic tours, trade expo, parades, performances and kite-flying.

NCCA’s 25th Anniversary

As the NCCA turns 25 years in 2012, expect the Philippine Arts Festival to be a grand celebration for all the artists and cultural workers in the country. Likewise, the NCCA gears for its other banner programs like theDance Xchange: Philippine International Dance Festival held every April; Taoid in celebration of National Heritage Month every May; and Dayaw every October in line with the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Month, among others. The NCCA Secretariat is headed by its OIC Executive Director Ms. Adelina Suemith, while the head of the Planning, Policy Formulation, and Programming Division (PPFPD) is Ms. Marichu Tellano.

For more details on the activities and schedules, contact PIAF Media Director and NCCA-Public Affairs and Information Office (PAIO) head, Rene Sanchez Napenas at (632) 527-2192 or 0928-5081057, or PAF Festival Manager, Vanessa Nicolas at 0918-6380412. Email us at ncca.paio@gmail.com.

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Nothing to Declare at Yuchengco Museum

The Yuchengco Museum hosts the second leg of Nothing to Declare, a multi-venue and multi-media international art project that aims to contribute to contemporary discussions on migration. Featuring 27 foreign and local artists working on a range of media, the exhibit is presently on view until January 29, 2012.

Nothing to Declare is a project spearheaded by Flaudette May Datuin from the Department of Art Studies of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman; Precious Leaño of the Filipino Visual Arts and Design Rights Organization; and Josephine Turalba of the School of Fine Arts and Design of Philippine Women’s University. Nothing to Declare aims to contribute to discourse on migration, the movement not just of people across borders, but also of forms and realities across time and space. The project focuses on those who have nothing to declare, whose marginality is a source of intervention and strength. The visual discourse and presentations began at the Blanc Compound as the first venue, with the Yuchengco Museum and the UP Vargas Museum following through until January 2012.

Nothing to Declare at Yuchengco Museum is curated by guest curator Claro Ramirez, Jr., and showcases the works of participating international artists Mateo Amaral (Argentina), Dana Cojbuc (France), Ding Ren (Netherlands/USA/China), Dada Docot (Philippines/Canada), Hillerbrand + Magsamen (USA), Khaled Hafez (Egypt), Sol Kjok (Norway/USA), Thomas Kutschker (Germany), Sebastian Mahaluf (Chile), Nerea Martinez de Lecea (UK), Minou Norouzi (Canada), Ruth Schreiber (Israel), Martin Sims (Australia), Motohide Taguchi (Japan), Sonja Van Kerkhoff (The Netherlands), and Quint Welters (USA). From the Philippines, the participating artists are Michael Bacol (Philippines), Errol Balcos (Philippines), Paulo Chavez (Philippines), Joey Cobcobo (Philippines), Raquel de Loyola (Philippines), Tony Gonzales (Philippines), Nikki Luna(Philippines), Tes Pasola (Philippines), Hanna Pettyjohn (Philippines), Alma Quinto (Philippines), Noel Soler Cuizon(Philippines), and Josephine Turalba (Philippines).

Painting, sculpture, photography, installations, sound art, and video show the array of artists’ ideas, while some collaborative work has been done with partner communities. The exhibit is also a starting point for various activities and programs, such as art educators’ training workshops, an essay writing contest for college students, education guides, and docent tours.

Nothing to Declare at Yuchengco Museum runs until January 29, 2012. The museum is located at RCBC Plaza, corner Ayala and Sen. Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati City. Museum hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (632) 889-1234 or visit http://nothing2declare2011.wordpress.com/.

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FDCP Sineng Pambansa Deadline Fast Approaching

Do you have a story in your mind that can be made into a compelling film?

If you want to join the growing ranks of the country’s young and dynamic filmmakers, many of whom have won national and international awards, now is your chance.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has launched the first National Film Competition which will reward the best screenplays submitted by aspiring directors and scriptwriters across the country with substantial seed money to translate their stories into quality films for local and even foreign exhibition.

The FDCP’s mandate is to promote the growth and development of the Philippine movie industry, spread awareness and appreciation for Philippine culture and history through film, and revitalize the Philippine movie industry by creating new opportunities for aspiring filmmakers as well as generating a bigger audience for Philippine cinema by bringing Filipino films to Filipino communities everywhere.

The nationwide scriptwriting and film competition seeks to highlight our outstanding film culture, while unifying the many diverse visions, views and voices of Filipino filmmakers across the country. The announcement of winners and awarding of prizes will be held either in the city of Davao

HIGHLIGHTS OF COMPETITION GUIDELINES:

· Open to Filipinos who have not written or co-written, directed or co-directed more than three films, documentaries or animated features.

· Three Categories:

o Feature Film Competition

o Full-Length Documentary

o Animated Short Film Competition

· Three Divisions in the Feature Film Competition and Full-Length Documentary Competition

o Luzon Division

o Visayas Division

o Mindanao Division

· National competition for animation

· Geographically oriented using language/dialect indigenous to setting

· Deadline for submission of screenplay is midnight of December 11, 2011

· Finalists announced December 29, 2011

· Filming starts January 2012 and final submission of films on May 30, 2012

· Festival in June 2012 at Davao City.

· Detailed guidelines at www.fdcp.ph

· Forms can be downloaded from www.fdcp.ph or are available at FDCP Makati Office

For the complete set of rules and guidelines of the National Film Competition and application forms, please visit our website: www.fdcp.ph, or email us at: natcom@fdcp.ph 

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