Press Release

ENFiD PRESENTS EXCLUSIVE FILIPINO-THEMED ART EXHIBIT IN PRAGUE THIS SEPTEMBER

By Vanda Brady (ENFID)
Prague-Czech Republic
September 2, 2016



THE THEME - Filipinism: What Makes Art Filipino

Filipinism is not a new movement in the art scene. It is a way of showing the real identity of the artist into their works as a Filipino. It is the aesthetic conceptualisation on how the Filipino artist’s ideas, heart and soul is injected in every piece. Filipinism in the art world began during the Impressionism period wherein two Filipino visual artists won at the Exposicion National Bellas Artes in Madrid, Spain. In 1881 Juan Luna, the first recognized Philippine artist garnered Silver in painting for a piece titled La Muerta de Cleopatra. In 1884, his more popular work Spoliarium won the 1st Gold medal in the same competition while Felix Resureccion Hidalgo’s artwork titled Las Vigenes Cristianas al Populacho got the silver medal. Many noted Filipino artists won international acclaim in the field of visual art like Rene Robles and Rafael Cusi to name a few. The latest who is called “The Juan Luna of our generation” is Max Balatbat who won Silver in the prestigious competition Lorenzo Il Magnifico Award during the 7th Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy in 2009 besting around 3,000 entries from 80 countries.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Rene Robles
Assertionism, an art movement with the underlying principle of having the power to assert, transform and transcend, was pioneered by Rene whose work highlights challenging visual perspectives that suggest a sense of reminiscence, melancholy and displacement. His collectors are King Carlos of Spain, Bill Clinton, King Bhumibol of Thailand.  One of his brilliant art works worth €1500 will be donated as a grand prize in a raffle draw at the general assembly.

Ernesto Bagtas Jr.
Considered the genius of his generation in the Philippines, Ernesto or "Aris" uses motifs and compositions that are more attuned to Philippine cultural sensibilities. His works are distinctively Filipino which inspire to create a country where family values, traits and traditions are not forgotten. Aris is donating a painting worth €1000 as a grand prize for General Assembly Raffle Draw.

Sherwin Paul Gonzales
Celebrated Filipino artist Sherwin is the originator of "Tareptepism" from the old Tagalog word tareptep, which means “ripple of water”. It outlines the Filipino art style which aims to convert the ripple of Filipino art into waves in the national and global art scene. Sherwin has won 3 consecutive national and international competitions in 2015.

Vincent Christopher Gonzales
Self-taught visual artist Vincent, like his brother Sherwin, are advocates of truly indigenous Filipino art style. Vincent hypothesised that the illusion of motion is what gives worthy paintings impact and created with Sherwin "Tareptepism" based on this principle.

Emmanuel Nim
Emmanuel Nim is a prolific artist whose portraiture echoes his love for the human figure and deep concerns for Mother Nature. He is also known for his portraits, human figurative and landscape paintings that usually carries a message that humans are the stewards of mother earth.

Ronna Manansala
Ronna picks female themes of mother and child, grieving Virgin Mary, and gossiping women and stayed close to into the intentional breaking down of subject into near abstract form. She uses subjects of ordinary rural Filipino folks in various activities and projects the raw and pure character of a strong woman, depicting her grandma, mother and herself.

Fred Ramirez
Hardcore abstractionist and feel-good artist Fred Ramirez uses internal landscapes to evoke mental states and emotions. Applying bright splashes of paint and even generous impasto on his canvas, with occasional contrasting blobs for accent - the gifted Leyte-born artist emerges strongly, even defiantly - from the group of realists and surrealists.

Anna Yacat Bader
Anna Yacat Bader is a Filipina living in Vienna whose profession is an art painter. A self-taught gifted artist, she renders using acrylic or watercolor and is inspired by the beautiful sceneries in Austria such as fields, the alps and old buildings.  Anna’s work is very much appreciated in Austria and internationally.  She started sharing her fascinating work since she moved to Austria over a year ago.

Filipinism: An Art Exhibit that is Truly Filipino
Opening on Saturday 17 September 2016
Exhibition continues until Sunday 18 September 2016
Gallery hours are 9am to 5pm
17-18 September 2016 – Czech Association of Scientific and Technical Societies (CSVTS) Novotného lávka 5, 116 68 Prague 1
PLEASE VISIT US: http://enfid.org/event/2016-enfid-annual-general-assembly-in-prague/
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