Headline: In praise of the unsung (South China Morning Post)Tuesday 20,2006


Byline: Filipino artists are finally receiving the recognition they deserve as their consulate teams up with local galleries to host the city's inaugural Philippine Arts Festival, writes Annemarie Evans



THE WORK SHOWS a nun squatting next to a man stabbing himself. It's hardly relaxing fare for the living room wall, but then Jose "Jojo" Legaspi has no interest in depicting comfort and solace in his art.

Touted as Manila's answer to Damien Hirst, Legaspi is gaining respect on the international art scene - even if the Catholic Church considers his work to be blasphemous. His painting is just one of a catalogue of works by Filipino artists on show at the first Philippine Arts Festival.

In a city where Filipino artists have a tough time getting their work shown to the public, the Philippine Consulate and Philippine Association of Hong Kong have combined to organise their own showcase of Filipino works.

This Saturday the Central Library will host Unang Sulyap (First Glimpse): A Survey of Philippine Artworks in Hong Kong, a four-day exhibition of 70 paintings and sculptures by 35 artists. It covers a wide range of styles - from the more commercial graphic design, to the abstract and socio-political.

It's one of nine events of art, drama and photography that have been laid on this month. Contemporary art is likely to steal the limelight as this category makes up a big part of the festival. A number of galleries have been roped in to help introduce promising artists such as Legaspi to potential collectors.

Headlining some of these exhibitions will be established contemporary artists who are on the international circuit and whose work has registered with Sotheby's and Christie's at sales of Southeast Asian art in the past two years. Contemporary artist Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, or Bencab, for example commands high prices for his work.

Gallery owner John Batten, who led the way in exhibiting Filipino art in Hong Kong, says there has always been a big international market for Indonesian and Filipino art. "Manila has a very vibrant arts scene," he says. "The variety of art galleries and public spaces is much better than Hong Kong. There's no passion here."

Aberdeen Street gallery owner Karin Weber says she's more cautious when selecting Filipino artists to represent. She's been a long-time supporter of the work of abstract artist Noel de Guzman, well-known for painting with his fingers. His works are now on show at the Philippine Consulate, and at her gallery.

"I'm personally quite careful with Filipino art," says Weber. "I don't like the art with religious overtones, with crosses and religious images. It makes me feel uneasy. But there are a lot of Filipino artists who have a lot of talent.

"People have quite a dismissive attitude towards Philippine art and the artists themselves are struggling to overcome this prejudice. They are given a poor reception by galleries here."

Weber will be showing another Filipino artist later this year, Norberto Carating, another abstract artist, who uses metallic acrylic. Weber feels it's a good time for Filipino contemporary art. "I think people are getting a little tired of Vietnamese art," she says. "It's been done to death in a certain genre. And Chinese contemporary art is skyrocketing in price."

With the exception of Bencab and his peers, Filipino art is relatively affordable. "Filipino art is at a good entry level for new collectors," says Agnes Lin Yin who runs Osage Gallery, which is holding two exhibitions by Filipino artists this month in its Central and Kwun Tong premises.

Osage, in conjunction with the Philippine Consulate and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is exhibiting the work of more than 10 emerging Filipino artists at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in the first half of August.

While most artists in the Philippines struggle to make a living, those in Hong Kong - such as Justo Cascante, Bobit Segismundo and Joel Ferraris - pursue their art while holding down jobs as graphic designers, advertising art directors, and film animators.

Their works are reasonably priced - from about $2,500 upwards - and cover the usual themes of religion, politics and corruption. Still, local demand for them remains small.

"There's a lot of collector interest in Jojo [Legaspi]," says Cascante, a computer animator who spent 10 years working for film director Tsui Hark. His works will be featured in the consulate and Central Library exhibitions. "[That's] because they're interesting pieces," he says. "The works are very dark. Some have dogs hanging on hooks."

Legaspi also has depicted his parents with devil's horns. "But here in Hong Kong people don't like subversive pieces. They want to see something happy or abstract."

Negros-based artist Charlie Co is also exhibiting his multi-media terracotta figures in Hong Kong this month. The framed works include commuters in bowler hats and an abstract John Travolta, and most have some form of social message.

In the "happy" category is Manila-based artist Popo San Pascual, who crowds many of his canvases with a multitude of vibrant faces. "They're people I meet on the street," he says. "Random faces I paint from memory. These I see as more cafe works. I'd rather have a happy effect on people. The Philippines is so impoverished, I can use these as a tool for entertainment and 'upliftment'.

"Many Chinese people buy my works in the Philippines. Their humour seems to click with my work."

Unang Sulyap (First Glimpse): A Survey of Philippine Artworks in Hong Kong, Sat-Jun 27, 10am-9pm, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Rd, Causeway Bay, tel: 3150 1234

Popo San Pascual and Lourdes Pardo de Leon at Osage Gallery City, LG Shop 1, Corner of Caine Rd and Old Bailey St, Central, tel: 2537 0688. Ends Jun 28

Philippine Figuration, showing works of Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto and Charlie Co. By appointment. Osage Gallery Loft, 3/F Union Hing Yip Industrial Bldg, 20 Hing Yip St, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, tel: 2537 0688

Tactile Mind by Noel de Guzman, Karin Weber Gallery, G/F, 20 Aberdeen St, Central, tel: 2544 5004. Until Jun 30