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.
Born as a spin-off of the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, after a gestation of more than two years, Pinto International docks at 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 Drs. 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 o n 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 artists presented cover a wide range of aesthetics Surrealism, Expressionism and Minimalism to Social Realism and Conceptual Art, but echoing the unique historical and cultural experience of being Filipino.
The exhibition will open on May 22, 6 pm for art collectors, gallerists and curators, who will be joined by some of the artists and several influential collectors travelling to New York especially for the event.
Activities will follow to favor the cultural exchange between the Philippines and New York, which will include live conversations with the Philippines with personalities of the likes of the Directors of the National Commission of Arts and Culture, the Directors of the National Museum, as well as many highly-respected artists, curators, gallerists, collectors and journalists in 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, drawing also the younger and more dynamic New York art crowd to admire the wonders of Philippine contemporary art.
The culturally succulent program will continue non-stop for the whole night and following day, closing at 6pm. One thing is assured: Manila will be in the room in Manhattan, and it will be fun.
