Astrud Crisologo: A beautiful creation

Astrud Adriano-Crisologo has great aesthetic taste. Whether picking out a pair of sterling silver earrings, contemporary Filipino art or Tibetan shawls, Astrud knows what the next great thing will be. With her husband Norman, Astrud has been collecting Philippine contemporary art since the ‘90s.

“We are just so proud of the talent and how the art industry here has evolved. There have been many whose works we’ve fallen in love with but there are a few who have caught my eye and heart,” Astrud shares.

Among Astrud’s favorite artists are Marina Cruz-Garcia (“Her work speaks of her roots: her childhood, her family and her subjects pertaining to death, longing and emptiness are beautiful even poetic in their sadness.”); Rodel Tapaya  (“His colorful Philippine mythology from funny homesick manananggals to wrathful deities of mother nature to carnival sideshows showing man’s fascination with the bizarre!”); Jayson Oliveira and old favorite, Louie Cordero.

In order to further pursue her love for art pieces, Astrud set up Casa Amarilla in 1993. Her retail items range from local artisans’ pieces to house accessories from the many countries she has visited.

“I started out featuring the works of Aro Soriano. I traced the family of artisans he trained in an obscure barrio in Bulacan and had some products custom-made like katol holders, pieces of Virgen de Guadalupe, jeepneys and miniature churches, storm chimes and candle holders inspired by the Mexican ‘Arbol de la Vida (Tree of Life)’ but using our Philippine mythological figures like the diwata and local fruits and animals. I’ve always been drawn to Mexican crafts ever since I first saw them in a shop called La Sirena where I lived in Melbourne back in 1989 to 1990,” she says.

Astrud and her family travel biannually for their summer and Christmas holidays, they go to exotic places and patiently scour the markets for colorful folk art. Always, she’s attracted to crafts made by hand.

“I believed they’re a dying art! What way to keep them alive by buying them to encourage the artisans to continue honing their skills!” she explains.

“I decided to mix our local crafts and feature a new country each year to make it more interesting for my clients. My showcases became very colorful in the bazaars! Something my husband Norman and I enjoyed creating,” she adds.

Among Astrud’s favorite finds are a hand-painted Buddha cabinet which acts as a portable altar from Sri Lanka, colored striped wooden candle holders and handwoven tablecloths that were made by a women’s cooperative and Astrud’s luggage and yoga mat bags, which she designed using Ilocano Inabel, Igorot, Sri Lankan, Indian and European striped textiles.

Right now, Astrud spends her time learning Italian, taking jazz, innerdance, NIA and flamenco classes.

Most of her time is spent caring for her children and her husband. “I have known Norman for about 19 years. We share the same love for travel, collecting, design, architecture, food, cars and music. He isn’t the typical macho Pinoy, which I love about him!” she concludes.