Last night while you were probably out (or working late), fashion designer Jesus “Jojie” Lloren unveiled Musings with the Muses, his first solo art exhibit. 39 pieces from his Red Charity Gala collection, with a bonus one for this show, are on display at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo and Pasilyo Victorio Edades.
The range is inspired and based on Filipino painters and paintings. Model-photographer Jo Ann Bitagcol joins the show, contributing her photography. Art gallery owner Albert Avellana, Jojie’s neighbor and friend, curated the show, which will run until July 23rd.
Having debuted at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel last October, the designs are now displayed tableau-style and are based on the works of artists such as Juan Luna, Jose Joya, Fernando Amorsolo, Vicente Manansala and even younger ones like Mac Valdezco and Geraldine Javier.
A new piece, the 40th addition to the exhibit, graces the CCP show in honor of the collection’s modest artistic purpose.
Exhibiting at the CCP was “doubly fulfilling” for Jojie. “When you show in a museum, you take out the commerce aspect… I’m still alive and I’m showing at the CCP. Even if I didn’t make money from this collection, all my hardship has been worth it,” says the designer, who has always been about earning the respect of his peers.
A mentor for aspirants in Project Runway Philippines, Jojie is now also currently working on building a design school alongside managing his atelier and designing two RTW lines for Rustan’s.
Photo courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer