Contemporary art as Benchmark
An eye.
A cluster of paddles in cool colors.
Art that looks as cool as rock ‘n’ roll.
The design stares like an orb: all-knowing and with rainbow visions of hope. And it juts out from the shirt of one Ronald Ventura, internationally heralded artist who — along with Geraldine Javier — has designed shirts and created artworks (in Ronald’s case, limited-edition eye sculptures) for local retail giant Bench, one of the co-presenters of this year’s Art Fair Philippines.
“I like Ventura’s composition and attention to details,” says Bench founder, chairman and executive creative director Ben Chan. “I have Ronald’s works showing hands and feet. They are so life-like. I also like his works depicting culture, form and ideas in multiple layers. I like the emotional vibe Geraldine’s artworks convey. You can sort of feel the depth of thought and feeling that goes into her art.”
Ben adds that the final T-shirt designs are more like a symbol of the two artists’ genuine desire to help others, which make them even more special.
The “Bench X Ronald Ventura” and “Bench X Geraldine Javier” collaborations, by the way, are in support of Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez’s project of providing each one of the 6,200 registered fishermen in her congressional district in Ormoc, Leyte, with a new fishing boat to replace the thousands they lost to typhoon Yolanda’s fury. She calls it Mission Possible. According to Bench ad and promo manager Jojo Liamzon, “Geraldine has come up with a capsule collection — four women’s and five men’s pieces. Ronald has come up with three designs — one is a limited-edition of 100 pieces, and the other two will be sold in Bench stores. He also created sculptures in unique editions of only seven. All for charity.”
Event director Robby Carmona says the Bench launch is on Feb. 5, Thursday, 5 p.m., at the Art Fair Philippines venue. “It’s going to be an interesting journey — with poetry reading by celebrities and a short curated tour of the Bench Special Exhibitions to be hosted by Sam Rodriguez.”
Ben Chan explains that there is such a fantastic partnership between his brand and Art Fair Philippines. Bench and Art are no strange bedfellows, mind you. Remember the Pinoy Pop Culture coffee-table book in the ’90s? There was also the Bench Pinoy Lab shop at the Met. And for the brand’s 25th anniversary, Bench collaborated with Secret Fresh gallery at Ronac Art Center in San Juan, on a capsule collection featuring the works of artists such as Christian Tamondong, Nemo Aguila, Bjorn Calleja, Egg Fiasco, Epjey Pacheco, JP Cuison, Tripp 63 and Whoop.
“For the art fair, we want a different level of collaboration,” explains Ben Chan. “I think this will expose a new aspect of Bench and what the brand stands for. It’s not just fashion, design, style, or creativity, but making art a part of everyday life. Bench is an everyday brand, a lifestyle brand, and so the message here is to make art a part of your lifestyle, to make your everyday lifestyle an art. Art is not something elitist or highbrow, but something that is a part of you.”
Ben believes that there is an artist inside everybody. But when you say “art scene,” the Bench founder explains, it shouldn’t be limited to just artists, gallerists, curators and collectors.
He shares, “The entire public should be involved. We really need to make Philippine art more mainstream. It has to be as part as everyday life as television and as malls. I have no doubt that if you see good art every day it would uplift your daily experience and general quality of life.”
Ben has observed how in London, you can enter most of their art museums and galleries for free. They have a program to make art accessible to everybody, because they believe that it gives the city spiritual sustenance. It raises standards. If you are a student and have no money and you are looking for something to do, you can go to any of London’s art centers and it’s a day well-spent. “The point here is to create an atmosphere of art appreciation. The more people appreciate art, the more artists we will churn out, and hopefully, the better the quality of the art. Everybody benefits.”
A bench-setter, visually
The man is such an ardent art collector. He has pieces by masters H.R. Ocampo, David Medalla and BenCab, among others. And then among the younger contemporary masters, Jon Santos and Ronald Ventura.
He remembers his first art purchase: an H.R. Ocampo that he bought from Larry Cruz’s gallery in Harrison Plaza. Ben has it to this very day. Other early purchases of his are by Onib Olmedo, BenCab and Joya.
If you asked Ben Chan what are his sets of criteria in purchasing art, he would tell you that as a retailer he is basically a visual person.
“If you go to my office, you will find paintings, drawings, posters, framed maps, knickknacks, all sorts of things that have visual impact, that have captured my eye. I surround myself with such things because they inspire me in my design ideas.”
So he follows the same criteria when he looks at art: “It has to be food for the eye.”
Ben has to feel that his vision has been enhanced by what the artist has shown him. He has to be impressed by the artist’s perspective, the way he composed and put things together, the way he used color and proportion. And most of all, attention to detail.
“People say I have eagle eyes because I notice everything and I remember the tiniest details — even if it was years and years ago. I guess that is really part of my perfectionistic personality. I truly enjoy the details of an art piece. It makes my day.”
Two artists that rock Ben Chan’s world are Ventura and Javier.
Geraldine, for her part, says, “When I was asked to collaborate with Bench on this fundraising project, I instantly agreed to do it. For me this is an opportunity to give back to a wider population in need, which can only be possible through the initiative of a company which not only has the resources but also the awareness and the social responsibility that comes with it.
The artist gave the Bench creative team designs based on her current working methods: making imprints by hammering leaves on a fabric, embroidery, making patterns partly inspired by indigenous textiles. And then the Bench designers thought of ways of how these designs can be applied to the shirts. She shares, “I was given freedom to choose, reject and make suggestions. What I like most about this collaboration is that I was given a chance to be part of the team.”
Ronald mentions how synchronicity entered the picture in his collaboration with Bench.
“What I wanted to present is how rainbows can be symbolic of hope — but using paddles instead,” he explains. “Paddles and boats are common images during rescue operations in times of calamities. I am from Malabon so I know how difficult it is when typhoons and floods hit our area. Familiar tayo sa ganong klaseng disasters.” So it was such a sweet coincidence for Ventura when he sat down with Bench and found out that the charity project is for the fishermen in Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez’s hometown.
Will there be more Venturas and Javiers in our neck of the woods? Well, you Bench, er, bet.
Filipinos are extremely creative, the Bench man points out. There is so much untapped creativity, artistry and talent just waiting to explode. What can companies such as Bench do to elevate the status of Filipino contemporary art in the region?
Ben explains, “It is through collaborating with artists. The best ideas come from artists. They are visionaries. So by collaborating with them we get to find new ways of doing art, which are beneficial to both the artist and the brand.”
He has always been inspired by the way Comme des Garçons has collaborated with artists and other designers. Or how astounding Dover Street Market store in New York is as it presents fashion as if it were in a museum or an art gallery. Both brands taking everything to a higher level.
“The best ideas must rise to the top, whether it’s fashion or art,” concludes Ben Chan. “These ideas are all connected and they all affect each other. If the Filipino contemporary art scene has the best ideas, if Bench in turn is uplifted by those ideas, then together we elevate the status of the entire art scene.”
Better keep an eye out for what’s to come.
