"Associative Looseness"

The dream gallery is finally open!

Galerie Anna, found at the 7th Floor of the Ramon Magsaysay Center along Roxas Boulevard, offers a new space for artists to display their enormous talent and for art collectors and spectators as well.

The gallery opened with an exhibition of the private collection entitled “Intimate Space”. The idea, according to Gallery Manager Joffrey Baylon, is to create a setting in which individuals can fully express their love for the art, in a more intimate fashion. As part of his opening speech, Mr. Baylon compared art to love; “Given a chance to pick between being loved and respected, which one would you take?” He further explained the gallery’s objective when he answered, “Would it be too much to have both? In Galerie Anna, we provide both respect and love, for the artists and for the audience.” In this sense, Mr. Baylon referred to respect as freedom of expression. No rule bounds an artist when it comes to their art. Anything goes, but with a distinctive taste of aesthetic class.

The first offering of the gallery showcases a private collection of Filipino artists. Such as Edsel Moscoso who showed off his recognizable style of using orbs to highlight the divinity of simple folks depicted in his paintings. Marcel Antonio, known for his ambiguous themes that encompass reality and myth all rolled into a mystical visual narrative. Romulo Galicano, the premiere portrait artist with his intriguing work entitled “Harana”, in which one could point out the likeness in features of Galicano’s model and that of TV-host-actress Kris Aquino. And leading multitalented artist J. Elizalde Navarro, who showed his inclination for flowing and violent colors with his untitled abstract painting.

Also part of the first exhibit are works of internationally acclaimed Vietnamese artists like Nguyen Tan Cuong, known for his borderline figurative and abstract style of painting. His eloquent combination of colors create a subtle environment to best view the formed object, which at this exhibition, is a face of a person, aptly entitled “Portrait”. Nguyen Minh Son’s short and quick brushstroke on “The Church” puts together a bright idyllic landscape that perfectly captured a few moments after sunrise. His use of bright colors and picturesque scenes automatically suggest a joyful and delightful mood that leaves his audience feeling cheerful.

Included in the show are two paintings by Bui Van Hoan, whose impressionistic style skillfully features Asian tradition and landscapes. The whole tone of “Monks” and “Forest by the River” shows a progression of one color expertly fused with light to create various hues. As opposed to Hoan’s style, Ha Huynh My’s paintings show her enthrallment with two notable themes – flowers and women, especially lotus. My explored in her paintings the symbolic connection between these two subjects, as well as their own wholeness. The innocence and simple beauty associated with each theme are carefully expressed by her use of faint hues of white and green, the figures nearly indiscernible as it blends with the background. This style brings out a sense of balance and peace that represents femininity at its purest, effortlessly. My’s paintings are entitled “On the way to School”, “Market on New Year”, “Country Road” and “Lotus Season”. Do Xuan Doan and Le Ngoc Tuong, both popular artists in Vietnam display their classic style in landscape and still life, respectively. Doan’s dedication to nature brought about an impressionistic creation of everything that is beautiful. Doan sees the beauty of everything and he cautiously transfers his vision into a colorful painting. “Country Road” is a perfect example of Doan’s passion for everything that is beautiful and vibrant. Le Ngoc Tuong on the other hand, plays with light and shadows in his detailed still life. The expert use of shadowing technique gives off a three-dimensional impression and an illusion of movement to these inanimate objects. The smoothness of brush strokes and high-precision detailing makes Tuong’s “Still Life” a must-have for collectors.

Bui Huu Hung’s “Royal Lady”, a lacquer on wood masterpiece, evokes a feeling of traveling through time and seeing the vividness of the past. Master of the Vietnamese art of Lacquer on wood paintings, Hung has carved a niche for himself in the Vietnamese art scene, and the world. “Royal Lady” exudes the monarchial status of the woman, which is clearly what Hung intended the viewers to see. The texture of his colors skillfully laid layer after layer presents a softness that ignites something nostalgic within the viewers.

Last but not the least, Galerie Anna also features an anthology of Byzantine hagiography or study of saints, by Constantinos Georgopoulos. Georgopoulos completed his compilation using egg tempera and gold leaf as his medium and wood as his base, to create a renaissance-like atmosphere. This also projects a sense of antiquity to the paintings. On first sight, one would think these paintings were centuries old, but, that is where the technique lies, it is not. As for his theme, Georgopoulos combined Asian, specifically Chinese beliefs with Catholicism by painting Angel Michael killing a serpent-like dragon instead of a human resembling Lucifer in his “Angel Michael”. His titles are the following, “Christ I”, “Virgen Hodigitria”, “The Dormition”, “Christ 2”, “Angel Gabriel and Michael”, and “Angel Gabriel”.

The diverse collection of Galerie Anna proved its versatility and steadfast support for artists and for the arts. It will remain a place for intimate communion with the arts; a close encounter with what the world has to offer; truly an event to experience.

“Intimate Space” at Galerie Anna will run until June 27, 2008. For more information or reservation please call (02) 5273131 loc 119 and look for Joffrey or e-mail any inquiries to galerieanna@yahoo.com.

There was once a quarter-moon called Luna. She was still a child and eager to go out to the skies and watch the earth below. She was allowed to shine on some nights and was eager to see more. She has seen the fields with trees, children playing in their backyard, and little boats with their shiny lights on finding their way in the big pool of water they call the sea.
One night, she overheard some moons talking about the color of the trees and flowers. Trey, a half-moon said the trees are gray and the flowers are black. Luna smiled and thought that's correct. However, Hector who is also a half-moon disagreed with Trey. Hector said the trees are green and the flowers are red. The other moons as well as Luna were shocked by what Hector said. Then, a barrage of questions, all aimed at Hector grew louder and louder that Luna unable to hear Hector's replies went home frustrated with her own questions.
Luna found her mother Full moon Fiona in the kitchen, cooking their meal. Fiona noticed Luna looking at her and knowingly asked, “Is there something you want to ask me, Luna?”
Luna was jilted and shyly said, “How did you know I want to ask something, Mother?”
“Because you are my child and I know you.”
Luna smiled and inched her way closer to Fiona.
“Mom, what is the color of the trees and flowers?”
Fiona was surprised by the question, “You have a very interesting question. May I know why you are asking me this?”
Luna relayed the events with Trey and Hector while Fiona listened attentively. When Luna was done, Fiona asked her, “Who do you believe is telling the truth?”
Luna, bewildered by her mother's question truthfully answered, “It's Trey of course. Because I have seen the trees and flowers and they are gray and black. Everything on earth is either gray or black. I don't even know what color is green and red.”
Then Luna looked up to Fiona and said, “Do you know the color of green, Mother?”
Fiona was amused by Luna's questions let out a small laugh. “Of course I know the color green.” Then she became serious and said, “Listen Luna, both Trey and Hector are correct. The color of the tree is green and to us it appears gray, and the color of the flower is red but to us it appears black.”
“But how come there are two colors?” Luna asked.
“Because of the kind of light we shine on them, Luna. We only shine at night when it's dark, so most of the colors we see are either gray or black.”
“How do you know it's really green or red then, when you only come out at night, Mom?”
“Because there was a time I saw them during the day, when Mr. Sun was shining and everything was bright.”
Luna was amazed by what Fiona told her, and excitedly asked if she could also come out during the day and see the colors of the trees and flowers. But Fiona told her otherwise.
“Why can't I go out during the day? When Mr. Sun is bright and I could play?” Luna insistently asked.
Fiona gently reminded her, “Dear, our light is not as bright as Mr. Sun's. I'm afraid you'll lose your light if you come out.”
The bewildered Luna further asked, “What do you mean, Mom? We are the only source of light during the night! So we must have stronger light than Mr. Sun!”
With an exasperated groan Luna slumped on her chair and blurted, “Mr. Sun was never there when it's dark. I just want to see the color green and red.”
Fiona, astounded by her daughter's observation, patted Luna's shoulder and lifted her chin. “My dear child, you are wise beyond your years. But that's just the way it is. We come out at night when Mr. Sun is sleeping so we could keep our lights.”
Disappointed, Luna said, “Then I refuse to shine anymore at night.”
Fiona restrained her laughter and lovingly looked at Luna, “When it is dark and people need light, we are there for them. When Mr. Sun is resting we help the people find their way at night. You see Luna, people need us more at night than during the day. When Mr. Sun's light is waning and darkness befalls the earth, we shine. Unlike during the day, when Mr. Sun is awake and is shining brightly, people can not see us shining for them. So it's useless if we shine during the day. And if we lose our light, who will shine on the people at night? No one. Do you understand?”
Luna was nodding and slowly her spirits are coming back. She stood up from her chair and started to walk away when she remembered she has another question.
“Mother, you said once you saw the trees and flowers during the day and you did not lose your light, when will I be able to see them too?”
“Just open your eyes and you will see”, was Fiona's answer.

That night, it was Luna's turn to shine and she tried to make her light brighter so she could see the trees turn green and the flowers turn red. Morning came and still unblinking she was still trying to see what color is green. Mr. Sun, who was now up from his sleep saw Luna and was amused. He asked her, “What are you watching, Luna?”
Luna did not look at Mr. Sun but answered, “I'm waiting to see the trees turn green and the flowers turn red.”
Mr. Sun smiled to himself and slowly spread his light over the earth.
“I will start to shine now it’s better if you go home immediately, or you might lose your light.”
Stubbornly, Luna did not move and stayed where she is until she felt Mr. Sun's light on her. She started to move away from Mr. Sun and with a bowed head she turned around when Mr. Sun called out, “Wait!”
Slowly, the gray trees were turning to green and the black flowers were turning to red.
Luna was very happy and she couldn't believe that she had finally seen the colors green and red.
“So that's the color green!” she yelled ecstatically.
She turned around and saw Mr. Sun smiling at her and slowly spreading his light. She smiled at Mr. Sun and waved goodbye.
“Thank you Mr. Sun. Till we meet again!” and she hurriedly went home with rejuvenated spirits.


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