Before Art Becomes Part of a Home

CEBU, Philippines —  Two unique outside-of-the-gallery exhibits are currently ongoing in Cebu – creative presentations that are punctuated by a “where art goes before it becomes a part a home” tone.

Both ongoing through the holiday season, following are quick takes on the two shows – one in Cebu’s longest-running specialty framing shops and another at the showroom of one of the metro’s premiere real estate developments.

“Visual Harmony”

Manila Art Frames Gallery, E. Benedicto St., Cebu City

Composed of T’boli-themed paintings, a range of landscapes, intricately detailed pen & ink pieces and contemporary-themed mixed media pieces, “Visual Harmony” highlights artworks made by eight Cebuano artists and four Metro Manila-based talents.

Aimed at identifying the value of harmony in the sea of creative individuality, the show takes it upon itself to earmark the divergent paths all artists take by setting rivets on ‘creative commonalities’ – elements which harmonize different creative leanings as one masterfully written score.

Presented by ArtPortal Cebu and Manila Art Frames, the show, outside of its harmony-oriented theme, sets a different light on artworks in general, as it is presented in a framing shop – an essential last stop where all artworks go to before heading to exhibition spaces.

“Strokes”

Taft East Gate Showgallery, Cardinal Rosales corner Pope John Paul II Avenues, Cebu City

“Strokes” at the Taft East Gate Showgallery is more than an exhibit that’s held in a real estate showroom as it’s a show that features watercolors that are masterfully rendered by architects.

Mainlined by pieces made by the members of Arkisketchers Cebu, the benefit exhibit (which has identified the Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc. as its beneficiary) sets a ‘free form’ tone to the creative intonations of architects – a respite from the technical layouts and designs which they draw on a day-to-day basis.

Banking on the idea that designs by hand is still the most effective design communication tool in architecture, the show presents how richly emotive architects can be in capturing the beauty that surrounds their periphery.

In opting to showcase “Strokes” in a real estate showroom, Arkisketchers Cebu goes beyond presenting what architects can do sans the ‘pretentions’ that are underlined by technical requirements and fittings – the organization and the show convey how a painting completes the home, as opposed to it being a painting and nothing more.