In times of rapidly changing economic and political dynamics worldwide, cultural dialogue has the power to build bridges where politics builds walls.
Pinto International is a project aimed at favoring cultural diplomacy between the East and West by promoting Philippine culture, society and history in the United States and Europe through the lens of contemporary art.
A spin off of the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, born after a gestation of more than two years, Pinto International docks in downtown Manhattan on May 22 for a show that promises to give art lovers in Manila and New York something to talk about.
“Pinto: Manhattan Manila” will bring 30 of the most talented Filipino contemporary artists to New York for a
two-day group show in the West Village.
Honorary chairs of the event David and Susan Rockefeller and Josie Natori will welcome guests at Urban Zen, an industrial two-story building in the heart of Manhattan kindly provided by fashion mogul Donna Karan, and which used to be the studio of her late husband, New York sculptor Stephan Weiss.
The proceeds of the event will benefit both the Asian Cultural Council, a foundation supporting Asian contemporary artists with fellowships to live and work in New York for six months, and the Foundation supporting the Pinto Art Museum, to continue nurturing young Filipino visual artists.
The show is organized by Doctors Joven Cuanang and Luca Parolari.
The curator of the show is Federico De Vera, the Filipino-born New York-based designer and owner of the eponymous De Vera gallery in Soho, Manhattan. De Vera has curated major art shows, including the critically acclaimed “Egon Schiele: Portraits” at the Neue Galerie on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and an all-Filipino show that will take up three floors of the Ayala Museum, opening in October.
“Pinto: Manhattan Manila” will feature the works of Manuel Ocampo, Elmer Borlongan, Ronald Ventura, José John Santos, Rodel Tapaya, Marina Cruz, Jigger Cruz, Mark Justiniani, Emmanuel Garibay, Raffy Napay, Alfredo Esquillo, Nona Garcia, Winner Jumalon, Dex Fernandez Ian Quirante, Jp and Pogs Samson, Erwin Leano, Kawayan de Guia, Riel Hilario, Antonio Leano, Joven Mansit, Guerrero Habulan, Dexter Sy, Martha Atienza, Gregory Halili, Ryan Villamael, Wire Tuazon, Keiye Miranda, Joel Alonday, Daniel de la Cruz, Jana Benitez, Gil Batle and others.
The exhibition will open on May 22, 6 p.m. Activities will follow, including live conversations with art personalities from Manila. Later in the evening, when live conversations and performances will continue in the loft-like space and terrace garden upstairs, a party will be hosted downstairs in the main exhibition space.—CONTRIBUTED
