National Artist Bencab, born in the Year of the Horse, unveils his dynamic happy horse in motion for Swatch on Feb. 19, 3 p.m., at the Art Fair Private Preview.
The unveiling opens the Art Fair Private Preview at the Swatch VIP Lounge on the sixth floor of the Art Fair at the Link, Glorietta, Makati.
Swatch will be co-presentor at Art Fair Philippines this year.
Swatch celebrates the 25th year of Swatch Philippines and kicks off the 2014 year of celebration at the Art Fair Philippines.
Swatch and art have come a long way since the brand began working closely with artists 30 years ago. From Keith Haring and Kiki Picasso to Alessandro Mendini, Akira Kurosawa, Uma Wang and Jeremy Scott, Swatch has commissioned “art for the wrist” from more than 75 established and emerging artists from a broad range of disciplines.
Swatch commemorated its 30th birthday at the 55th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, one of the world’s most prestigious culture institutions.
This contemporary art exhibition opened in Venice, Italy, June 1 and ran through Nov. 24, 2013.
In this year’s Art Fair, Swatch ambassador, multi-awarded actor and art collector John Lloyd Cruz, will engage the guests with three “must enjoy—the Swatch way” activities during the Art Fair:
1) Artists can apply for residency to live for three to six months in the amazing Swatch Art Peace Hotel in the Bund neighborhood in Shanghai. During the Art Fair, Swatch Philippines will pay the processing fee, to be donated in full to Doctors without Borders.
If the artist application is accepted, the only obligation is for the artist to leave a “trace” (one art piece) behind upon completion of his or her stay.
2) Visit the artists presented by Swatch:
Louie Cordero—Award-winning painter, sculptor, animator and creator of a comic series which has a cult following in the Philippines and Japan. The artist is a recipient of numerous awards including an Ateneo Art Award in 2004, and the Thirteen Artists Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2006.
Rodel Tapaya—Award-winning painter and one of Southeast Asia’s most active artists with exhibitions in the region and in Berlin, New York, Tokyo and Beijing. He was presented with an Ani ng Dangal Award in Malacañang Palace.
Jose Santos III—Award-winning visual artist who has held solo and group exhibitions in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and China. Several of his works have been sold at the auction of Contemporary Asian Art by the prestigious Christie’s of Hong Kong.
Marina Cruz—Award-winning painter who has held solo and group exhibitions in the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Australia and Singapore. The artist is the recipient of the grand prize of the Philippine Art Awards in 2007 and the Ateneo Art Award in 2008.
3) Edible Art @ the Swatch Pop-Up Booth
The food and art movement is another major direction of contemporary arts. Visitors may even take home a limited-edition Swatch Dreamcake watch.
