Visayas Biennale 2010

CEBU, Philippines - There is a better way to professionalize practices in the Visayan art industry.

“Agi-anan” (referring to routes, byways, methods, strategies, or preferences) is the central theme of the Visayas Biennale 2010 here in Cebu City, set from November 16-19, which explores the plurality and hybridity of aesthetic subjects and subjectivities in the production, circulation, and reception of art-making both within and outside the Philippines.

In a press conference recently, it was learned from curator and conference convenor Dr. Reuben Cañete, project director Palmy Pe-Tudtud, assistant project director Dennis Montera, Pusod, Inc. chairperson Javy Villacin, and executive members Bart Boy Kiamko, J Karl Roque, Feb Lotus Alesna and Roy Lumagbas that the Visayas Biennale 2010 is envisioned as the “logical successor and expanded version of the continuing Visayan Island Visual Artists Exhibit-Conference (VIVA Ex-Con).”

The members of Pusod (the open organization of Cebu Visual Artists, Inc.) said that for the past 20 years, the VIVA Ex-Con had operated to unite the various fragmented artistic communities in the Visayas under one event that allowed the artists to interact with each other, and to help each other develop through meaningful activities, self-help seminars and workshops, and open fora where artists were free to articulate their identities and concerns as practitioners in the Visayas.

In a statement, it was pointed out that the Visayas Biennale 2010 began as an idea that was conceived to resolve some of the long serving problems of VIVA Ex-Con in terms of professionalism in art events organizations, particularly after the “disastrous holding” of the 2006 VIVA in Calabog City, when the Cebu artist delegation successfully bid for the 2008 VIVA Ex-Con in Cebu City.

According to the organizers, “such successful holding of the 2008 VIVA Ex-Con here in the city, on the other hand, had persuaded the other delegates of VIVA to back the venue of Cebu as an ideal location for the VIVA in the near future, one which was articulated by VIVA co-founder and acknowledged head of the Negros Occidental delegation, Mr. Charlie Co.”

Further, it was learned that it is due to said concerns that the organizers of the 2008 VIVA Ex-Con, who are also now tasked to organize the 2010 event, have decided that the “traditional” VIVA formula no longer works, since it has not allowed the community to grow beyond a narrow range of vaguely “identity formational” tactics.

“What is now needed is a more professionally conceived and executed art event that will center upon the concerns of Visayas artists, patrons, curators, and art administrators to allow the material base of artistic production among Visayan artists to be sustained, and a widening of the scope of exhibitors beyond the narrow confines of “being Visayan”, and to a more internationally or globally minded art event that is unafraid of inviting international or expatriate artists to exhibit in the Visayas,” this was emphasized.

Thus, the conceptualization of The Visayas Biennale 2010 as the ideal successor to VIVA is set to carry on and expand the concerns of VIVA to an internationally accepted standard of excellence and professionalism in mounting art events.

“The Visayas Biennale will also strengthen not only the artistic identity of Visayans through a well-organized and executed art event, but will also ensure that their work will deserve the proper treatment and circulation that would put them at par with other artists around the world,” this was also learned.

“The prestige of joining an international biannual art event will also rebound to the benefit of the economy of the region, as international visitors to this event will also translate this to investments, leisure and services, tourism, and the manufacturing industry,” the statement further read.

Moreover, it was underscored that the “Visayas Biennale will thus strengthen the position of Cebu as a major regional and international center for the arts, culture, investments and tourism, like other great cities with art biennials such as Venice, New York, Paris, Sao Paulo, Tokyo or London.”

Major components of the Visayas Biennale, which is to take place at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall 2, are a curated exhibition that will execute a theme given for the event; a selling art exhibition or art fair that will accommodate artists and dealers willing to offer their works or services for sale to clients; an art conference and/or art congress that will feature plenary sessions, discussions of issues and concerns among participants, and seminars and workshops; art talks, lectures, and presentations by invited special guests; and special events, gala openings, concerts, screenings, and other such prestige affairs for participants, as well as the general public.

Plenary session speakers for Day 1 (November 17) of the First International Conference on Visayan Art and Culture will include Ms. Joyce Toh, curator of the Singapore Art Museum and Mr. Phil Whittaker, director of the Sotheby Art Institute in Singapore. On Day 2, art critic Cid Reyes is set to speak before the third plenary session.

Workshops on Day 3 to be held at the Grand Convention Center will tackle Techniques in Abstraction, Basics in Sculpture Casting, and Live Model Sketching (Male and Female) to be facilitated by Eghai Roxas, Franz Herbich, and Romulo Galicano with Sofroño Mendoza, respectively.

For early birds, registration fees are P2,500 for professionals and P1,500 for students. After that, fees would be adjusted to P3,000 for professionals and P2,000 for students which cover kits/handouts, entrance to related activities, snacks and official meals. Contact [email protected] or 09173695014 (email [email protected]) or 09173295626 look for Dennis for queries and for reservation. (FREEMAN)