Galleria Nicolas | Sweet Dreams...

In every artwork, there’s always a journey behind its proof of concept, and it is unrelated to the familiar title of the exhibit. It might be a theme that often relates to the personal experience of the artist having indulged in something he or she enjoys in their everyday life. Sometimes, there’s no context to it, and then there is the storytelling that drives each painting that stands out. Jomike Tejido’s “Sweet Dreams… Are made with these” is not taken from the classic song that British synth-pop duo Eurhythmics popularized in the 80s. But something special and interesting takes on the title of his latest exhibit at the Galleria Nicolas, which is currently running at the gallery that inspires even the kids at heart.

Galleria Nicolas | Hirameki: Cloudscapes

Cloudscapes can be viewed from Earth and often include just enough landscape to suggest scale orientation weather conditions, and distance (through the application of the technique of aerial perspective). Cloudscape and skyscape are sometimes used interchangeably, although a skyscape does not necessarily require a view of clouds.** It is an art by itself of a view of clouds or the sky. Rarely, if you would define one if you live in a densely populated city. But while living in another country in a small city in Adelaide, there are directions you can see the clouds or if you are outside of the CBD you will see cloud formations and most of it during the “golden hour” such as defined by a part of the title of Jomike Tejido’s latest Solo Exhibition.

Galleria Nicolas | Open Arms

“Open Arms” is a second solo art exhibit show featuring Hraya Ocampo-Tejido, and this is her third exhibit with the last one with her spouse Jomike. This show, “Open Arms” is a celebration of optimism, freedom of expression, and a welcome to the artists’ friends and family gracing her show that’s a celebration not only of her ever-growing success. But also a sort of reunion with those she hasn’t seen in a while. This is her first exhibit with Galleria Nicolas, and she brings her signature flowers to the gallery. The afternoon is simply buzzing with laughter and smiles that show that the artist and her art continue to spread optimism with all the bright colours that most of those walk-ins would invite the curiosity that she is as an individual every day.

Finale Art File | Red is Not Red, Blue is Not Blue

There is something of exploration in the local art galleries in Makati City that are sometimes overlooked or unnoticed. But for every gallery, there’s a discovery of an artist you might have not heard of before or have been around that only few would have known their works either in major art events that most people can see or a private event where their work is one of the highlights for that show. Abi Dionisio has been a contemporary artist and has her works being auctioned or featured internationally. For every artist like her, she continues to develop and evolve her style of creativity that brings out some of the best exhibits that nobody has ever seen such as her latest solo show, “Red is Not Red, Blue is Not Blue.”

Secret Fresh | Reason to Live

Nobody wants to be in isolation, and the pandemic has given everyone that part of life being indoors for more than a year. It would be a challenging situation to experience being just in your room not being infected by the virus at the same time not having social interaction with everyone. Interacting virtually is a different experience that makes it hard to go through each day. Sometimes the only outlet is finding the exploration to look at ourselves and what we can do to keep moving. A few would easily give in that there’s no hope of a reason to live in an isolated place. But NARAYAN found a reason to create and make her explore her artistic side further: her solo show “Reasons to Live.”

Galerie Joaquin | Blossom with Grace

There’s a saying when you’re “Blooming” something good is happening to you. In the case of Haraya Ocampo-Tejido it’s a reawakening and she continues evolution as a parent, mother, and a loving wife that she continues to Blossom. Another meaning is a fresh new start for every individual who is a student of life. Of course, few can be seen going through the changes in life, but for Haraya her very first solo show “Blossom with Grace” is certainly quite a refreshing perspective about interpretation about the meaning at the same time putting her own stamp of artistry to every works presented that was a resounding success at Galerie Joaquin.

Galerie Stephanie | Prismal Paths

There are wonderful things that some might not be interested into, but when you try to interpret these works, which gives a new meaning to any individual who would describe them in their perspective. They may be lines and colours, but for art is always subjective in nature that is redefined in a fresh perspective. Galerie Stephanie’s current two-man show featuring Pepe Delfin and Jomike Tejido has been up since April 19th, and will be having its last viewing tomorrow as of this writing, which is winding down. The images may not do justice in seeing them best in person to give this show a send-off, but if you haven’t had the time here they are…

Secret Fresh | Figure & Landscape

There have been two shows that were supposed to feature an artist’s reception with Secret Fresh. But due to the impending announcement after the coronavirus Metro Manila lockdown for health and safety reasons this prevented mass gathering and the shows where only open for a limited time, which was only until 6 PM as for the sake everyone Ronac Art Center is not open for business starting this Monday. The only business open are those essentials that will serve like supermarkets, chemist/pharmacy, convenient stores, and banks. In case you missed the limited opportunity to visit this gallery they have unveiled Ronilo Abayan’s first solo art show with Secret Fresh, which was supposed to be exhibit until 26 March 2020.

Secret Fresh | Brokenness & Breakthrough

Sometimes art inspires you and put focus into what you really want to do in life. It gives you great perspective and let you express yourself through the different facets of your emotion in putting together the pieces that truly an inspiration in such way some people are not gifted of that rare skill. Coeli Manese has been churning up show after art show with her passion and unique ability to put together some of the interesting pieces in her ever growing career in the contemporary art scene. Despite no formal training she honed and skills through trial and error to put up some impressive works that is now presented in her first solo art show with Secret Fresh that was formally launched last night.

Ortigas Art Festival | Explore the Facets of Art

Contemporary Art is making waves in the past five years through art houses and galleries acknowledging different facets of art from street to pop giving a fresh perspective and reinvigorating interest that built a cult following in a niche environment. But what if you bring the sensibilities of contemporary art and put it in a public forum such as the Estancia Mall? You get to see different spectrum of reactions from those visits by different walks of life. Ortigas Art Festival is that idea they have been building up for the last two years since opening the event to the public in 2018. From sixty participating artists now grows that includes foreign guest from all over the world!

Galerie Joaquin | Lights in Motion

02.03.2020 – Abstract art would be considered as an unexplored frontier in contemporary art. It is the most challenging subject to find your niche in giving its true meanings from an artist’s perspective that is simply subjective in everyone’s thoughts, impression, and emotional expression. It is like you’re imagination transports you in giving it your own narrative. Macoy Coching has outdone himself this time with his latest solo art show that was recently celebrated during opening night at the Galerie Joaquin in the Powerplant Mall. Only a few friends and family had gathered to celebrate the artists’ latest achievement. I happen to gotten lost in this part of the mall by chance.

Finale Art File | Christmas Group Show

12.08.2019 – Finale Art File is one of the first few art galleries that cater to the current influx of creating contemporary art in the City of Makati. It is one of the few galleries that promote social gathering that invites interest in subjective art. These days the venue has neighbors like Nova Gallery Manila and Vinyl on Vinyl. On this night they had a special year end show similar to what Vinyl on Vinyl gallery is having just across the next door. But for this last show for the year is clearly more than just appreciating great art with some food and drinks at the same time there’s that party vibe that capped off the late night with the success of the previous art shows.

NOVA Gallery | We Have A Show At Its Time

11.10.2019 – Art can be subjected and at the same lets you think what it means to you. For Nova Gallery Manila’s recent show last night is a solo art show by Red Salonga (his third overall solo) and a group show of mix media among interesting things that also gives you a perspective that is undefined. Most of the art shows is a social activity exchanging ideas and aspiring others to venture into their artistic side. It should be that way not about injecting division that someone’s going to steal another ones ideas. In today’s standards everything is from another individual’s perspective, but brought injecting their ideas to produce new art.

Mono8 Gallery | Future Present 19

08.01.2019 – Mono 8 Gallery’s latest Group Art Show debuted last night featuring mix media contemporary art from the upcoming and the best visual illustrators this side of Manila that you might not heard or read their names about. But their works clearly speaks from their passion when it comes to the arts. Twelve talented artists bring out their best with impressive paintings, illustrations, and installation that brings out their signature styles and personality through their impression and expression of perspectives that you’ll find in this group show that will run from 31 July 2019 and for the next two weeks and you find the all the visuals here…

Secret Fresh + EXLDMANILA | The Prussian Channel

12.17.2018 - Secret Fresh ends the year with a new exhibit featuring Pilipinas Street Plan’s EXLD Manila aka JJ Zamoranos, who continues to innovate and experiment new styles in making contemporary art refreshingly impressive that is insanely thought provoking. A painting that combines serious Prussian blue tones with mixed pop art inspiration. “The Prussian Channel” is a jigsaw puzzle of interspersed pop culture and cartoon forms incorporated within the silhouettes of wildlife animals. The artist was up for the challenge the he’s been wanting to take his art style to the next level that is rarely seen to some who just want to stay in the medium that made them known, but not for EXLD Manila who continue to relevant with his latest solo show.

Vinyl on Vinyl | Sixth Anniversary Perspective

09.04.2016 – It’s been six years since Vinyl on Vinyl established itself as one of the art galleries in the Central Business District that started out more like a hobby than the usual place that you usually see in every art gallery. But there’s something more from its beginnings where it used to be located at the Collective and moved out to carve its identity more than just exhibit. It nurtured and promoted talented individuals with its own style redefining the modern contemporary art. It added its personal touch that celebrated its anniversary that defined its name.

Art Asia Gallery: Cana's Kaleidoscope 6!

08.04.2015 – The art scene in the Philippines has been growing and before you know it there have been art galleries located inside shopping malls. Earlier today there were three solo exhibitions that where launched simultaneously. One of them was a solo show by Franklin Cana Valencia is raising funds for a family friend at the same time paying tribute who had ALS or commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This is his 10th solo show featuring his kaleidoscope style art…

Inevitably Imperfect II: Akira Miyamoto!

07.29.2015 – Art can’t be defined but a diverse visual creation expressed by individuals who breaks the boundaries of imagination. I rarely write about my appreciation for art here, but this one has caught my senses and it’s weird. Earlier today Vinyl on Vinyl Art Gallery unveiled a collection of works for the “Inevitably Imperfect II” art show, which featured local and foreign talented individuals. This includes one the most imperfectly unique creations that certainly chilling and interesting…