Philippine Embassy, Kunst Filipino Hold Art Exhibit in Pretoria

The exhibition showcases the paintings of four (4) talented Filipino visual artists, namely, Aris Bagtas, Jr., Remo Valenton, Loriel Castillo, and Ariosto Dale Bagtas.

PRETORIA 28 April 2025 - The Philippine Embassy in Pretoria, in partnership with the Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talento (KUNST Filipino), hosted the vernissage of Viaje 5 Filipinism: What Makes Art Filipino on 22 April 2025 at the Javett Art Centre (JAC), University of Pretoria.

In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Noralyn Jubaira Baja underscored that the exhibition aims to be a platform to showcase the richness of Philippine contemporary visual arts in South Africa. Recognizing the transformative power of art and its ability to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, she noted that the exhibition also seeks to be a bridge builder in enhancing the cultural ties and people-to-people understanding between the Philippines and South Africa.

The exhibition showcases the paintings of four (4) talented Filipino visual artists, namely, Aris Bagtas, Jr., Remo Valenton, Loriel Castillo, and Ariosto Dale Bagtas. Their works of art mirror the concept of Filipinism which is a movement in the Philippine art scene whose guiding philosophy is to allow Filipino visual artists to infuse the essence of being a Filipino into their artworks.

The exhibition was well received by guests composed of government officials, diplomats, academicians, members of the Filipino diaspora, students, and other sectors of South African society. They were impressed by the artistic prowess of the Filipino artists, the diversity of their techniques, and the inspiration behind each artwork.

Reflecting on the successful outcome of the vernissage, Ambassador Baja remarked “The exhibition offered a special platform for the Embassy to showcase the word-class artistry and talent of Filipino visual artists. The Embassy will continue to harness the potent power of cultural diplomacy in building a positive brand for the Philippines and the Filipino people in the host country.” END

In her welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Noralyn Jubaira Baja underscored that the exhibition aims to be a platform to showcase the richness of Philippine contemporary visual arts in South Africa

Ambassador Baja together with the four (4) talented Filipino visual artists

For more information, visit https://www.pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph  or https://facebook.com/PHLinSouthAfrica/ .