Art in the Bank Vol.1: A Discovery

VOLUME 1 ART IN THE BANK

A DISCOVERY

October 2, 2018 Metrobank Plaza, Makati City

CONTENTS 1

Preface

2

We go a long way back: Metrobank and the Arts

3

On Commerce, Culture and Art Collection by Dr. George S.K. Ty

4

Right Around the Corner: A Self-Guided Tour of the Works of the

Filipino

Masters

within

Metrobank Plaza

8

Fill in the Blanks of the Canvas: An Artwork Coloring Activity

9

The Discovered: The 2018 MADE Recognition Program Awardees

PREFACE ART IN THE BANK is a self-published zine tailored for Metrobankers. In it is a collection of educational materials on the history and context of the artworks that can be found within Metrobank Plaza. It is envisioned to be a series of zines that uses the collection of MADE and Metrobank as its springboard for art education and appreciation.

“Volume 1: A Discovery” tackles the Filipino Masters Series that hopes to establish the active involvement of Metrobank in preserving and promoting Philippine Art. For the main feature, we invite Metrobankers to embark on a self-guided tour allowing them to discover for themselves, the stories behind the artworks located in the publicly accessible locations of Metrobank Plaza.

As part of the initiatives of Metrobank Foundation, ART IN THE BANK also delves on the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence or MADE, a Recognition Program aimed at launching the careers of young Filipino artists. Awardees of this year’s MADE Recognition Program will be introduced together with their works that are exhibited in the Main Lobby of Metrobank Plaza. ART IN THE BANK also has a special corner dedicated to Dr. George S.K. Ty as an important figure in Art Patronage.

By bringing these signicant facts into the awareness of the Metrobankers, it is with great hope that a newfound sense of appreciation for both the art around us and the Group Chairman’s philanthropic vision would be discovered.

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We go a long way back Metrobank and the Arts Metrobank’s active support in the arts can be traced back to the beginnings of when Dr. George S.K. Ty started collecting art during the 1970s. A glimpse into his personal preferences as an art collector brings to light a human perspective to the successful banker: powerful modern works depicting Philippine history, culture, and the “greatness of the Filipino people� make up a large portion of his vast collection.

[L-R: Dr. George S.K. Ty, Metrobank Chairman, Dr. Jaime Laya, Minister of Education, the top 3 winners - Joel Ferrer, Robert Feleo, Arnaldo Mirasol, Hon. Edgardo Angara, 1984 U.P. President, and Mr. Edgardo Espiritu, 1984 Metrobank President]

His passion for Philippine artistic excellence did not just stop at collecting and displaying artworks in the Metrobank Plaza, but further translated to the philanthropic initiative of awarding young and emerging Filipino artists through the establishing of the first Metrobank Annual Painting Competition in 1984.

Dr. George S.K. Ty spearheaded the recognition program for artists as he believes that the youth should be given a venue to channel their creativity and provide inspiration. Since then, the competition has become an annual program and was renamed Metrobank Art and Design Excellence or MADE, which launched the careers of many contemporary Filipino art masters.

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On Commerce, Culture and Art Collection

by Dr. George S.K. Ty “I like art that communicates to me at a personal level.

Beauty in art appeals to me. I can relate to paintings that capture something of everyday life. I appreciate paintings of people who work, their environment, the energy. As a businessman, I understand the value of working hard and when I see it in a painting, I can understand what it means.”

“I have Chinese roots, but the Philippines is in my heart. I collect paintings of Filipino history and culture. They are rich in values that I share. The works of Carlos „Botong‟ Francisco and Fernando Amorsolo show the richness of our country‟s tradition.”

“My art collection is part of a personal legacy to society. For a long time, Filipino art was underappreciated. Investing in our painters was one way of expressing my belief in Filipino talent and gifts. The businessman in me saw the investment side of buying good works. The other side was a way of giving back by supporting local artists.

“I believe art contributes to a people‟s higher awareness of what is important and essential in life. It serves to inspire and enlighten. When people are inspired and enlightened, they are likely to contribute in building the nation. That has always been my vision.”

Reference: Arceo-Dumlao, Tina. “George SK Ty Pays Homage to Filipino Masters .”Philippine Daily Inquirer, 29 Jan. 2017, business.inquirer.net/223709/george-sk-ty-pays-homage-filipinomasters.

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Right Around the Corner A Self-Guided Tour on Philippine Masters at the Metrobank Plaza

Though many know him as among the most successful bankers and businessmen in the country, Metrobank’s Group Chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty is also known as a man with a deep affinity for visual art. The works displayed at the Metrobank Plaza tell a unique story of the group Chairman’s love for the Filipino people and the birth of his corporate philanthropy in the arts.

His collection of Philippine masters grew exponentially since he started collecting in the 1970s, ranging from the academic works of old masters to the expressive and revolutionary works of modernists to the fresh, conceptual works of today’s contemporary artists, making it one of the most valuable, extensive collections of Philippine art.

“Pillar of Growth” by Eduardo Castrillo Location: Promenade, Metrobank Plaza What better way to begin this tour than with this grand brass sculpture entitled, “Pillar of Growth” by Eduardo Castrillo. Built in 1977, it was at that time the tallest abstract public monument in Southeast Asia.

Aside from this sculpture, Castrillo also built other iconic monuments around the nation: the famous People Power Monument along EDSA. His use of brass and other metals in his works is reflective of his beginnings as a jeweller.

Do you see it?

Though it also makes use of Castrillo’s recognizable brass medium, “Pillar of Growth” is unique to Metrobank for it resembles the Group Chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty’s signature.

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“Abstract Mural” by Jose Joya Location: 1st floor lobby, Metrobank Plaza Just like “Pillar of Growth”, this mural by National Artist Jose Joya immediately speaks of grandness with its sheer scale. Jose Joya was one of the pioneers of abstraction in the country and has represented the Philippines in prestigious art exhibitions abroad because of his innovations in abstraction during the 1950s—he was known to use unconventional mediums in his artworks such as sand. In abstract art, colors fields and gestural lines are used to evoke emotion rather than to form objects that imitate reality.

Do you see it?

Though the work is abstract and is open to interpretation. If you look at the artwork in its entirety, you will see how Joya was able to incorporate a distinct Philippine landscape —a bird’s eye view of rice padi fields.

“Philippine Dance” by Cesar Legaspi Location: Second floor, Metrobank Plaza A perfect example of Philippine culture and its vibrancy is Cesar Legaspi’s “Philippine Dance”, which captures energetic yet graceful Filipinos in motion. The liveliness in the people’s movement extends to the background which also looks as if it’s in motion with its curved lines and bold warm tones of brown, red, and orange. The strong use of colors make it hard to believe that the artist was in fact color-blind. There were even times wherein his daughter, the prominent OPM singer Celeste Legaspi, would help him identify colors in magazine clippings.

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“Tawaran” by Anita Magsaysay-Ho Location: Third Floor, Metrobank Plaza Anita Magsayay-Ho’s “Tawaran” portrays everyday Filipino women at work, bustling with bargaining and transactions. In her paintings, Magsaysay-Ho immortalizes the strength and grace of Filipinas in their daily life. Her distinct modern style of bold, angular lines, repeated patterns can be seen throughout the canvas, evoking the rhythm of everyday work. Magsaysay-Ho’s unique, truthful renderings of the Filipina and tremendous influences in the field of Philippine modernism make her one of the most revered women artists in Philippine history.

Do you see it?

“Tawaran” is a painting made up of three panels placed together, commonly known in art terminology as a “triptych”.

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“Market Scene” by Vicente Manansala Location: Penthouse, Metrobank Plaza To conclude the tour of Dr. Ty’s art collection in the Metrobank Plaza is National Artist Vicente Manansala’s “Market Scene”. This painting was rendered in the cubist style, making use of geometric shapes and flat perspectives.

This seemingly mundane scene of a Filipino marketplace fits perfectly in this environment of a bank, as everyday trade and exchanges such as these are what helped a business like Metrobank grow. As ordinary Filipinos work hard and earn, they put their savings in the bank and trust that the bank will take care of their funds. It is clear through this painting that apart from scenes of Philippine culture and festivities, Group Chairman also appreciated images of Filipinos in their workplace.

Do you see it?

Cubism was pioneered by the modern master Pablo Picasso, but Manansala integrated his own flavor to the iconic style, founding what’s now known as “transparent cubism”.

In this painting, you will see how he made use of overlapping, transparent colors to reveal the unique fabric of the Filipiniana clothing.

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Color in the Abstract Mural of Jose Joya below:

It’s your time to get creative and express yourself!

Fill in the Blanks of the Canvas

The Discovered The 2018 MADE Recogntion Program Awardees

Exactly 34 years when it all began, discovery, then, as with today was at the core purpose of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence. Indeed, it was a discovery of the excellence inherent in the Filipino youth, exhorted to challenge himself, that led to the discovery of numerous genuine talents, who are now at the front rank of Contemporary Philippine Art. This year, Metrobank Foundation also renews its partnership with Federal Land Incorporated for a site-specific work located in the Metro Park development. The participating sculptors were to design an artistic and modern indoor public art installation for the atrium lobby of the Met Live Mall. Serving as the site’s signature art centerpiece, the proposed work is slated to reflect contemporary Filipino culture.

Our first Special Citation Awardee is Mr. Francis Eugene Andrade. A full-time artist and a Fine Arts Graduate Major in Visual Communication from Bulacan State University, he is a pride of Marilao, Bulacan. His work entitled “the sacrifice” is being recognized for its sheer poignancy and lacerating symbolism. His work speaks of sadness borne from familial sacrifice and separation.

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Mr. Roland Llarena is our second Special Citation Awardee. He is a selfsupporting student-artist from Miag-ao, Iloilo taking up B.S. Architecture. His winning piece entitled “The Diminishing Memories of Home” depicts a snapshot of a parting moment. A luggage left at the gate evokes detachment - unanticipated but inevitable. Long after the colors tatter and fade, how long do memories stay?

The Grand Awardee for the Oil on Canvas Category is Mr. Noel Elicana. A 25-year old full-time artist from Iloilo, he is being recognized for his work “Kanyakanyang Tinik, Kanya-kanyang Landas, Iisa ang Ginagalawan”. Seducing the viewer into a realm of metaphors, this winning work is in itself a pageant of life and its many delights.

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For the Water Media on Paper Category, the Grand Awardee is also an Ilonggo pride. Mr. Alex Ordoyo is an artist and a teacher at the IIoilo National High School. An ode to the vanquished City of Marawi, the outstanding piece, judiciously entitled “Destroyed”, portrays a landscape shattered into fragments that once were soaring domes and minarets of mosques.

For the Sculpture Recogntion Program, the Grand Awardee is Ms. Ronna Lara-Bes. Her piece is a futuristic cellular canopy that symbolizes the islands and waters of the country linked through familial bonds, regional ties, technology, or just simply by being filipino. Aptly entitled “interconnected” the work emphasizes connectivity and belongingness.

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NOTES

ART IN THE BANK VOLUME 1 A Discovery Copyright Š 2018

The zine was created by the Art and Design Unit of Metrobank Foundation Inc.

For more info, you may follow us at these sites: www.facebook.com/MetrobankFoundationOfficial www.facebook.com/MADECompetition/ www.instagram.com/metrobank_foundation/ www.instagram.com/metrobankartanddesign/ www.mbfoundation.org.ph/

For inquiries, you may e-mail Therese de Silva, Program Assistant II of the Art and Design Unit at therese.desilva@metrobank.com.ph.

Telephone No. (63 2) 898-8856 Metrobank Foundation, Inc. 4th floor, Executive Offices Metrobank Plaza, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City, 1200