Empowering Young Underprivileged Filipino Women Through This Silent Auction
Empowerment comes in many forms. Of all things, it should be intersectional, as well. This Women's Month, Multi-genre art gallery and art advisory firm Galeria Paloma teamed up with the scholarship grant program U-Go to address the needs of underprivileged young women in the Philippines.
The women-led gallery's Gallery of Giving, an exhibition and online auction, is done in collaboration with Ayala Foundation, Inc. With it comes a robust lineup of objets d’art, designer jewelry, and works by some of the country's leading modern and contemporary artists.
"I have been asked, 'Why U-Go, and why education?'" notes Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Senior Vice President for Leasing and Hospitality of Ayala Land, Inc. and Global Board Director of U-Go, about this pursuit. "I really believe–and am very much aligned with the Ayala Foundation’s vision–that access to education could be a meaningful equalizer for Filipinos."
With help from implementing partner Ayala Foundation, U-Go's efforts are dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty among Filipino families. It provides scholarships to young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, allowing them better opportunities for higher education and meaningful employment. From an initial batch of 120 students, U-Go sees its number of scholars expanding to 1,000 in the medium term. As it stands, there have been 410 women awarded U-Go scholarships throughout its run.
"As a gallery run by three women directors, whose mother was once a gallery director herself but found her calling as a steadfast educator, U-Go was a cause that we knew we could champion from the start," says Co-Director Kimberly Rocha-Delgado. "We are very grateful to U-Go for giving us the opportunity to make a contribution to the cause by doing what we do."
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Pieces We Love
Works by masters such as sculptor Julie Lluch and painter Onib Olmedo, as well as contemporary artists like Soler Santos, Bjorn Calleja, and more are included in the selection.
Of note, too, are artists like Aba Dalena, Martin and Barbie Honasan, Basti Artadi, Sarah de Veyra-Buyco and Hamill Buyco, Carlos, Carina Santos, and Carla Gamalinda, among others. The Gallery of Giving even has a section for digital artists like Luis Buenaventura, Skye Nicolas, AJ Dimarucot, and Isaiah Cacnio. Another section, on the other hand, is solely curated for emerging artists.
"Age of the Mantis" by Ernest Concepcion, Mixed Media on Canvas
Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists Awardee Ernest Concepcion's pieces are layered with images and caricatures that reference mythology, warfare, and nature. Through the classical landscape, he applies postmodernist techniques, producing contemporary parodies of conflict.
"Soft Places II" by Carla Gamalinda, Oil on Canvas
Visual artist, researcher, and art writer Carla Gamalinda's brand of surrealism depicts amorphous figures suspended in a state of quiet whimsy. She combines nature-inspired motifs with colors and textures borrowed from her memories of Sampaloc.
"Georgia" by Julia Lluch, Cold Cast Marble and Acrylic
Sculptor Julie Lluch is best known for works that uphold feminist narratives, offering viewers satirical commentary on history and women's place in the world. The artist magnifies mythmaking and entanglement by way of terracotta, stone, ceramic, bronze, and paint.
"Landmarks" by Carina Santos, Oil and Pigment on Canvas
With a practice that touches on arts, design, and more, Carina Santos' mastery of textural application shines through in her landscapes. Their gestural quality speaks of a keen understanding of liminal spaces and constant movement.
A cross by Jj Jiao, cross gold filigree pendant with diamonds
Designer Jj Jiao's precious stones are coded in a certain old-world opulence and modern Filipino maximalism, presenting filigree patterns and intricate compositions.
"Untitled" by Soler Santos, Acrylic on Canvas
Artist and renowned gallerist Soler Santos' style is characterized by his approach to dissecting the physicality of our spaces. His multifaceted practice explores our relationship with the objects that create our environment.
"XX (Version 2)" by Bjorn Calleja
We can distinguish Calleja's style for its careful interplay of micro-and macrocosms of humans in constant dialogue with themselves and their environments. His works showcase boldly augmented signature macabre figurations in quite the humorous way.
"Inspire" by Basti Artadi, Mixed Media on Canvas
Basti Artadi's stylized depictions of figures, landscapes, and scenes enjoy a certain expressive subjectivity, often rendered in haunting metaphorical images and contrasting colors. The more you think about Artadi's hard rock music background, the more you learn to appreciate his textural character.
"Plenteous" by Ken Samudio and Seph Bagasao
Also on sale is "Plenteous," a handcrafted chair made from vintage and recycled materials, critiquing the concerns associated with modern fashion. It's a collaboration between the respective ateliers of Vogue Italia talent Ken Samudio and designer Seph Bagasao.
"Sublime Substance" by Andre Baldovino, Oil on Canvas
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Andre Baldovino's abstract expression enjoys a variety of monochromatic distillations and linear and gestural applications. His shapes favor fluidity and clarity amidst a reckless rhythm.
"I’m excited by the possibilities of what quality education can bring, not just for women in the country, not just for their families and communities, but also in bringing the most empowered economy forward," Zobel concludes.
The auction will be conducted online here until April 10, 2024.Â
