A hawk's eye for the strange, the bizarre

Like straying into the island of Doctor Moreau. In Malate.Well, it feels like that the first time I visit this house not far from where my friends and I sing the bejesus out of those karaoke classics by U2, Aerosmith and their ilk. Malate used to be the twilight zone of the crazy diamonds of art and culture (Santiago Bose was the high priest); now condos, chi-chi restaurants and kitschy karaoke joints abound, so do girls in red mostly named “Sakura.”

Inside this particular house, Ben the Iguana, uhm, “suns” itself under a special UV lamp; sense-surround shrieks come from two macaws; somewhere in the area are hedgehogs and snakes; in the dark enclosures are rare crocs and tortoises. There are a thousand dogs (— I exaggerate, there are only 36).

The living room is an entire universe altogether with paintings (art as annihilative, compelling and mind-expanding; not the nostalgic Filipiniana paintings in most rich people’s houses) by Alfred Esquillo, Wire Tuazon, Louie Cordero, and Charlie Co, among others, as well as sculptures (one by Julie Lluch) and vintage chairs in the futuristic shapes of things to come.

Kim Atienza lives in a house festooned with strangely compelling art. “I’m a very light person,” he explains. “But I like art that moves me. When I see a beautiful picture, I’m moved, yes. But these pieces make me think. Art is about life, and life is not always beautiful.”

With all that mad art, does an eccentric art collector live here? A cross between Charles Saatchi and Willy Wonka? Or, judging by the fossils, meteorites, Martian stones, dinosaur eggs in glass cases, are these the digs of a mad scientist? Some Marlon Brando type with a method to his madness.

Then in comes the homeowner, having rode his mountain bike all the way from Monumento, and he is as wholesome as they come: Kim Atienza, Matanglawin himself and ABS-CBN’s “Weather-Weather Lang” man. Most televiewers know him as Kuya Kim.

The man is as pleasant in person as he is on-cam. Kim’s wife, Felicia, is cheerful as well. Despite being worn-out by all that shooting and all that biking, Kim can’t wait to show me around his quirky kingdom.

Kim shows me a stack of Jojo Legaspi paintings and drawings. “Dati walang bumibili niyan, Susmaryosep!” He points to paintings festooning the walls of his study: two early Elmer Borlongan paintings that even a close watcher of the Filipino art scene wouldn’t guess as the handiwork of Emong. There are Geraldine Javiers also that don’t look like Geraldine Javiers. He goes to an Esquillo painting he owns, “Mamakinley” by Esquillo. “Hiniram ng Whitney Museum ‘yan.” The painting has been exhibited in Spain, India, and in different museums all over the world. Kim says Esqui loves the painting so much he made himself a duplicate.

Another Esquillo artwork — a triptych titled “Inspirasyon, Pagka-upos at Pagsusuka” — ties up the entire room. It is about the three stages of creativity, the painter’s “ars poetica.” More paintings are upstairs, the man reveals.

“You should put up a museum,” I tell Kim.

“Bahay ko museum na eh (laughs),” he quips.

Daddy groovy: Kim with daughters Eliana and Emman, who both show kid’s deftness in creating origami

Here’s the next best thing: Kim and Felicia Atienza’s “Cabinet of Curiosities” (featuring artworks, chairs and an assortment of collectibles) will be on view from Feb. 18 to April 1 at 4F Gallery of The Picasso (boutique serviced residences and hotel) on Leviste Street in Makati. The exhibit is a satellite event of Art in the Park, a project of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, which aims to “make art more accessible by taking it out of the hushed, intimidating confines of the gallery” and bringing it directly to the public.

According to Lisa Periquet and Dindin Araneta, on view will be Kim’s collection of radical artworks by Geraldine Javier (“semi-abstract works inspired by her experience in the medical profession”), Esquillo (“unusual oil on paper works in sepia, depicting allegorical scenes of protest”), Jojo Legaspi (“a complete episodic narrative” elegantly titled “Phlegm”), and works by Nunelucio Alvarado, Wire Tuazon and Jerry Araos (crocodile see-saw). Art in the Park visitors should expect paintings — strange yet oracular — from Kim and Fely’s collection. Not sure if the snakes will make the trip.

In The Beginning

It all started in 1999. Kim hung out at the University of the Philippines and at the old Penguin Café near the Remedios Circle, met artists, and became friends with the likes of Emong and Santi Bose.

“That’s how the collection started,” relates Kim. “When you know the artist personally, and when you look at their work, there is an added dimension — a dimension of friendship. My wife also was an art collector when we were just dating. She gave me an Arturo Luz painting, and that spurred me on to collect even more.”

Kim’s predilection was (and still is) toward the avant-garde, the surreal, and what other people consider as “ugly.”

“Walang magandang paintings sa bahay ko, lahat sila mabigat, may angst. Ten years ago, people were asking me, ‘Why don’t you collect flowers, landscapes?’ Now that these artists have become stars, na-appreciate na nila ’yung collection ko.”

His first procurement was a Charlie Co — a naïve, surreal beauty in red.

Living culture: The Kim and Felicia Atienza art collection includes early works by Elmer Borlongan, Alfred Esquillo, Wire Tuazon, Geraldine Javier and Charlie Co, among others.

“Then it became ‘uglier’ (laughs). I met guys like Jojo Legaspi and Emong. Nakakatakot pa work ni Emong noon. Si Jojo kapitbahay ko sa San Andres Bukid. ’Yung controversy nina Mideo Cruz ngayon, ganoon dati si Jojo.”

Why does he gravitate toward dark art?

“Because I’m a very light person,” Kim answers. “People see me on TV as someone who’s wholesome, magaan lang. I like art that moves me. When I see a beautiful picture, I’m moved, yes. But these pieces make me think. Art is about life, and life is not always beautiful. And to be able to depict the dark side of life is something powerful.”

As for Kim’s fascination for animalandia, he explains that as a kid his first pet was not a dog or cat, but a python. “I was nine when I bought it with my aguinaldo (gift). Tinuklaw nga ako (laughs). I also love natural history. There were stages when I collected fossils and meteorites.”

How does one go about collecting, of all things, rocks from the sky?

“There are legitimate sites on the Internet (where you could buy meteorites). I also have a friend who is one of the few credited meteorite certifiers and collectors.”

The most prized rock Kim ever bought is one that was found in the Bondoc Peninsula, the only verified meteorite fall in the Philippines. A collector bought it from Henry Otley Beyer, the Father of Philippine Anthropology, and then Kim bought it from that collector. He adds, “The larger piece is now at The Smithsonian.”

Kim goes gonzo in most of the episodes of Matanglawin — from swimming a river of filth to having a tube shoved down his throat — but one incident has left him with an indelible memory.

“I suffered a stroke in August last year. When the doctors told me they were going to operate on me to seal the hole, I said I want it on TV. Why? To inform people, to inspire people for them to get well. I guess it’s me. That’s how I’m made up. I was able to annotate it until the anesthesia took effect.”

That incident has taught the man to value the Now even more. “And it got me into fitness — started brisk walking, then pure running. Now I’m training for the Ironman in Cebu.”

Life is good, says the ABS-CBN weatherman. “You’re sitting on an iconic chair, you’re staring at a painting in front of you, drinking fine wine, listening to birds singing, kaakbay mo wife mo, surrounded by your kids...”

And then Led Zeppelin or Eagles tracks (Kim gravitates toward Seventies rock) start wafting from the speakers. A small black dog barks in the background.

That, concludes Kim Atienza, is as good as it gets.

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Kim and Felicia Atienza’s “Cabinet of Curiosities” is on view from Feb. 18 to April 1 at The Picasso. This is a project of Art Cabinet Philippines, Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences and Rogue. For inquiries, call or SMS 0917-872-0463.