We ask people in the industry (artists, galleries, collectors) how things are going and what they think 2009 has in store, and, not surprisingly actually, everyone seems to be universally upbeat. Maybe it's the Filipino's never-ending hopefulness, or maybe we're all in denial...
But looking around... it seems like there's a show going on somewhere everyday in Manila... there seems to be just too many talented young artists that it's getting harder and harder to track, much less predict, who the next Borlongan or Justiniani or Javier or Garibay or Ventura is going to be... and there seems to be more galleries than ever (we hear that a major TV personality who's also a highly respected collector and patron of young artists is setting up yet another big art space)...
Anyways, for what they're worth, we found two interesting reads from the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Newsweek.
Don't Stash Cash Under Bed, Buy Art
...In this time of recession, art is a safe way to bet and speculate. Rather than hide one’s cash under the mattress, invest in excellent artworks. Read more...
Signs of Life in the Art Market
...For better or worse, there are also some renewed stirrings of hype in the contemporary-art market... At the Pulse New York art fair a few weeks ago, five large photographs of Imelda Marcos by Filipino artist Steve Tirona drew plenty of attention. The volume of inquiries on the last day prompted gallery owner Isa Lorenzo, a physician, to diagnose herself with a panic attack near closing time. A museum bought a set of five (there are 15 limited-edition sets), European collectors wanted to talk, and passersby stopped to gawk at the images of the former Philippine first lady gamely posing to help her grandson's costume jewelry line. In one image, she sits regally holding her pet dog Venus by a leash, in an opulent room that has seen better days. Photo illustration exaggerates the sparkle of her bling. A picture of her with Saddam Hussein in his heyday adorns a table, a classic painting hangs askew on a silk-covered wall and the mirror in a large gilt frame is cracked. The image is a reminder that like classic art, the best contemporary works make us weigh our icons, our values and what we consider beautiful. Read more...
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