Annual Asian Contemporary Art Fair Features Filipino Galleries, Artists

Philippine Embassy in Paris representatives with the owners of the Philippine art gallery The Drawing Room Cesar Villalon, Jr. and Kathleen Villalon. (Paris PE photo)

PARIS 19 November 2019 — The Philippines was well-represented at this year’s edition of “Asia Now: Paris Asian Art Fair” on 16 to 20 October 2019 in Paris, France through the participation of four Filipina artists, seven Filipino artists, and two Philippine art galleries.

The Drawing Room, a Makati-based art gallery, confirmed that it has been able to participate yearly in the Asia Now art fair since its inception in 2015. For 2019, the gallery had used its exhibition space to present the artworks of the Philippine husband-and-wife team Jose Santos III and Pam Yan Santos.

Another Makati-based art gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl, said that it was first introduced to the art fair by the Drawing Room gallery and that this year is its second time to participate. It had featured three artists—Filipino artist Martin Honasan, New York-based Filipina artist Pinky Ibarra Urmaza, and Philippine-based Brazilian artist Xavier Ciane.

Seven other Filipino artists were also chosen by European and Asian galleries to be included in their own exhibits. Ronald Ventura’s work was included in the exhibit of the Italy-based Primo Marella and Primae Noctis galleries while those of Rodel Tapaya were on show at the art space of the Chinese-Thai exhibitor Tang Contemporary Art.

The Singapore Yavuz gallery showcased the work of Filipina artists Johanna Helmuth and Yeo Kaa, as well as Filipino artists Keb Cerda and Ronson Culibrina. The Philippine national artist Benedicto Cabrera’s art works were also brought to Paris through Singaporean participation in Asia Now.

During this occasion, Ambassador to France Maria Theresa Lazaro welcomed Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera to Paris while the Embassy’s cultural promotion team met with the Philippine gallery representatives and the artists that were present at the art fair.

According to the official website of the event, Asia Now is the first Parisian art fair showcasing the diversity of Asia’s contemporary art scene. As an ideal platform for dialogue and interaction dedicated to contemporary artistic creation, Asia Now addresses in greater depth the selected artistic scene through a Curatorial Platform and Special Projects. Details on the Asia Now art fair can be found at https://www.asianowparis.com/en/2019/exhibitors. END

Ambassador to France Maria Theresa Lazaro with Philippine National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera. (Paris PE photo)

One of Jose Santos III’s works figure on the wall while that of Pam Yan Santos is in the foreground in a glass casing at the Drawing Room Gallery exhibition space. (Paris PE photo)

Some of Filipino artist Martin Honasan’s paintings at the Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery art space. (Paris PE photo)

Filipina artist Pinky Ibarra Urmaza’s exhibition pieces at the Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery art space. (Paris PE photo)

Philippine Embassy in Paris First Secretary Christina Rola McKernan visits the 2019 Asia Now Art Fair and meets the owners of The Drawing Room (top photo) Cesar and Kathleen Villalon, Filipino artist Martin Honasan (middle photo) and Filipina artist Pinky Ibarra Urmaza (bottom photo). (Paris PE photo)

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