(t)here with Pope Bacay

In his first solo exhibition called (t)here, Pope Bacay explored the concept of home — specifically, those he and his family had occupied or at least encountered while searching for a new place to rent. Sudden necessities, such as needing more space in order to accommodate larger works, rendered the artist to live almost nomadically. Thus the idea of transition — including the passing of time and how certain ephemeral moments could be attached to areas of residence — was also a key aspect of the show.

Numerous pieces from Bacay’s exhibit, held at Tin-Aw Gallery in Makati City, depicted his place in his hometown of Roxas in Oriental Mindoro. The artworks ranged from a full portrait of the façade of the house to close-ups of the balustrades and the windows. Also part of the show were smaller works portraying several apartments as well as a polyptych — similar to his undergraduate thesis “My Third Home” wherein more than 30 oil-on-shaped-canvas landscape paintings formed a puzzle of sorts. His recent polyptych, however, presented multiple exterior architectural elements — terraces, gates, grills, windows, balustrades  and roofs — all of which helped reveal an inclination towards certain patterns resembling those present in his childhood house in Mindoro.

This evident nostalgia was further augmented with the notion of the outdoors as an area where children often played — a clear instance that showed  the artist delving into the complex interrelationship between time, geography, architecture and memory.

Congratulations to this young and extremely talented artist. Your first show was a success and we look forward to seeing more of your work!

(Tin-Aw Gallery is located at the Upper G/F, Somerset Olympia, 7912 Makati Ave.

cor. Sto. Tomas St., Makati City. For more information, call 892-7522, e-mail  [email protected] or visit www.tin-aw.com.)

Teaching them young

It’s never too early to teach the young ones the importance of environment conservation through learning and exploration.

Century Tuna, the country’s leading tuna brand, led the inauguration of the first-ever KidZania Marine Conservation Lab at KidZania Manila in Taguig City. This indoor play city is where kids can have fun exploring the adult world through inspiration and learning. The new facility was established by the tuna brand in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.

At the new KidZania Marine Conservation Lab, kids learn about marine ecosystems, sustainability and the need to care for our seas through a mock underwater facility that houses models of marine ecosystems and research workstations.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan lauded the effort of Century Pacific Food Inc., WWF and KidZania Manila. He said, “The sea is very much a part of our lives, which is why marine conservation is of utmost concern. It is very important that we have an undertaking that will raise awareness among our children on the importance of marine conservation. We are so connected to the ocean — more than we are aware of.” 

Century Tuna ambassador James Reid joined a tour of the new facility. 

Century Tuna Food Inc. CEO and president Christopher Po said, “More than half of our business is marine-related. Conservation of our marine resources is a challenge we face every day, not just in our company but for all of us who depend on marine resources. So, we hope this facility will help inspire our youngsters to take up marine research and conservation.” 

WWF Philippines president Jose Palma stressed that “the Philippines is in the heart of the coral triangle so we cannot overemphasize the need to instill curiosity and interest among our children on the importance of marine resources and conservation.”

Game-changer

Rustan’s, together with City of Dreams Manila, launched Piaget’s new steel timepiece made for a new generation — the Piaget Polo S. 

Based on the much-loved, iconic Piaget Polo watch that was first released in 1979, the new timepiece is geared for today’s generation of “game changers.”

Featuring an ingenious shape-within-shape that is Piaget’s distinctive hallmark, the Piaget Polo S displays the unique association of a cushion-shaped dial within a round 42mm case. Its automatic movement discreetly reveals its beauty through a sapphire case-back.

Rustan Commercial Corp. president Donnie Tantoco welcomed the guests and honored the established partnership of the Piaget brand and Rustan’s. Guests were also invited to experience the elegant and daring sport that is polo.

There was a Piaget’s 360° virtual reality experience that allowed guests to play Polo through the eyes of a professional player with a Virtual Reality Unit.

Discover the great craftsmanship and the passion for daring creativity of Piaget with Rustan’s. *

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)