The Emerging Art Scene in Manila

The Filipino art community and its media coverage both locally and globally is small, so for the artists that do get press and media, all the more power to them!  There are only a handful of Manila galleries, the most notable being Silverlens and Pablo.  Most of the notable contemporary art galleries popped-up just recently, the earliest in 2004, so the Manila art world and the burgeoning art community are also very new.  If you can afford to buy world-class art and support local Filipino artists, please do so. You will be helping this emerging art culture grow while obtaining important works of art.

Address:

2FYMC Bldg. II

2320 Don Chino Roces Avenue Extension

Makati City 1231, Philippines

Silverlens recently opened in 2004 and was ranked #1 by spot.com.  The gallery aims to be the hub of contemporary art in Southeast Asia.  Founded by Isa Lorenzo and Rachel Rillo, both photographers, the gallery focused on photography in its early inception but expanded to other mediums in 2008.  It's a world-class gallery space:

Silverlens Gallery

Silverlens is currently representing these artists:

Frank Callaghan, Mariano Ching, Christina Dy, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Dina Gadia, Gina Osterloh, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Hanna Petty John, Rachel Rillo, Maria Taniguchi.

My favorite artist at Silverlens is Frank Callaghan who is English by decent, grew up in Baguio and now currently resides in Manila.  His series of photographs on urban landscapes are intriguing, making us examine more closely and contemplatively the mundane urban landscapes we zoom by in our cars everyday. Somehow these photos reach into our subconsciousness the ways in which we identify the distinct landscape of Manila. Here are some of his most notable photos:

Titled: "Stranger- Symmetry/Duality" 

Titled: "Boat"

Address:

2289 Pasong Tamo Extension

UPRC III Building, Makati City

Metro Manila, Philippines 1231

Address:
Unit C-11 South of Market Condominium

Fort Bonifacio Global City

Taguig, Philippines

Pablo Galleries opened in Cubao X on September 16, 2005, and have expanded gallery space in two locations in Makati City.  It's aim is to exhibit the works of young contemporary talent in the Philippines and emerge as a key player in the art world.  Here is a photo of the Pablo storefront in Cubao X:

At their Fort location they recently exhibited the works of Dina Gadia and Allan Balisi.  Dina is fascinated with images from retro 1950's and 60's posters, and tries to understand and dig the past by placing a skull or exposing flesh where there once was a beautiful face or smooth skin on the image.