Functional, fashionable objects
Lilianna Manahan recently unveiled “Funktion,” her first exhibit with AC+632 at the Gallery in Greenbelt 5. Guests at the cocktail party opening included art and design aficionados as well as lifestyle magazine editors and writers. On view for their appreciation was her collection of furniture, lights, home accessories and objets d’art.
Director Johnny Manahan was a proud father that evening, showing off the fine bone china vessels to Patty Araneta and Yael Buencamino Borromeo. Town & Country’s Yvette Fernandez and Alicia Colby Sy noticed how the decanters and cups had accents of 18k gold stripes that gave a touch of luxe to the streamlined shapes. “These porcelain pieces are perfect for our table!” Eileen Choy was overheard telling her brother Alex Rodriguez, who was visiting from New York.
Lilianna’s mother, the surface designer Tats Rejante Manahan, was just as effusive, discussing the Vanity Mirror with Chris Juan and Ronald Mabanag. “The Vanity is inspired by the brass mirror of Johnny’s father, Dr. Constantino Manahan,” she explained to the duo. The designer’s version had a retro feel but looked so right for today, inlaid with different shades of exotic wood. Cedie-Lopez Vargas of the Lopez Museum was admiring the impeccable craftsmanship while, as proprietors of AC+632, we liked its Old-World quality, which would be ideal for their new dressing room.
The fold and stump stools using handwoven inabel caught the eye of Irene Marcos Araneta, who recognized the weave as coming from her beloved Ilocos Sur, but was amazed how Lilianna had tweaked the traditional zigzag patterns and combined them with vivid solid colors for a modern spin.
Johnny’s brother Mandy Eduque and wife Chuchu Madrigal-Eduque were attracted to the Merchicken brass bookends with ipil wood base. They had an ancient look about them with a touch of whimsy that they found perfect for their library. Actually they didn’t even have to be used to hold books as they were decorative sculptures that could stand on their own.
Just as decorative but highly functional were the quirky floor and table lamps. Many were admiring the Fishing Floor Lamp, which had a light disc looking like bait attached to a fishing rod. Preview’s Pauline Suaco Juan had her eye on the Asterix table lamp based on the typographical symbol she would come across while editing her manuscripts.
But perhaps the hits of the evening were the upholstered toys Snoot on Wheels and the Rocking Bird, which were inspired by the designer’s nephew and niece, Jaime and Rosanna Yupangco, who attended the party. Jewelry designer Wynn Wynn Ong, who was admiring them from a distance, told the designer: “I can imagine them as sculptures in my atelier.” But before she could even get near them, siblings Alana, Ethan and Caleb Tan-Chi already claimed the toys as their own, just as any normal children would do. They just couldn’t resist playing with them, showing everyone exactly what Lilianna’s Funktion was all about.
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For inquiries, visit AC+632 at 2/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City, call 758-2564 or email ac632@pldtdsl.net.
