Contemporary art exhibit showcases Cebuano talents

Paintings and sculptures of contemporary Cebuano artists are being featured in the “Contemporary Cebu” art exhibit, which opened last Jan. 4 at the Cebu City Museum.

The exhibit curated by JV Castro is designed to bring national attention to contemporary Cebuano artists and their works. It is open to the public until Jan. 31.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said during the opening ceremony the exhibit recognizes Cebuano talents in visual arts as well as promote the museum.

The Alternative Contemporary Art Studio, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and The Grove by Rockwell partnered to launch this annual exhibit.

The first exhibit was held in June 2011 at the Ateneo de Manila University and Picasso Boutique Hotel.

The Cebu exhibit features the works of Palmy Pe-Tudtud, Marvin Natural, Kidlat of the Junks Collective, Karl Roque, Sio Montera, Ritchie Quijano, Vidal Alcoseba and Tito Cuevas.

Russ Ligtas will give Butoh performances on Jan. 12 and 13.

“It is an exhibition that features some of the finest artists we have in Cebu,” Castro said.

“My art is more of an expression of the things that happened in my life. For me, the best way to deal with my emotions is to paint,” painter Dennis “Sio” Montera  said.

Alternative Contemporary Art Studio and RAFI have been partners since Contemporary Cebu’s inception in 2011.

This year, they took in The Grove by Rockwell as a major partner. The other sponsors of the exhibit are the Cebu city government, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission of Cebu City, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Blue Shield Risk Management, Gothong Southern, Michelangelo Pizzeria and Hola España.

“Contemporary Cebu is a good opportunity for introducing the Cebuano audience to contemporary arts and for them to be familiar with Cebuano contemporary visual artists,” said Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of Culture and Heritage of RAFI./by Hannah Reoma/Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.