Etched in history

I have known notable artist Juvenal Sansó for quite some time. Although I was more familiar with his paintings, he did show me several of his prints and etchings when I visited him in Paris. He showed me more in his Makati home when I used to visit him there quite often.

Now, the amazing works of Sansó, also a multi-awarded printmaker, are displayed at Museo Sansó in San Juan City where an exhibit called “Sansó and the Art of Print: A Sansó Retrospective Print Exhibition” is being held. 

Featured in this exhibition are around a hundred pieces of Sansó’s rare and important fine art prints from the ‘50s and the ‘80s. Also on exhibit are some of his original copper plates and experimental artworks. Notable in the show is Moonglow, which won for Sansó both the Print of the Year Award and Artist of the Year in 1963 by the Cleveland Print Society.

Fundacion Sansó is making available to the public a special inaugural edition of an extremely limited series of restruck prints.

After I had a great time viewing the exhibit, I headed to Café Sansó located next to the museum. More on Café Sanso in this column soon.

(The exhibit runs until end of December. Museo Sansó is located

at 32 V. Cruz, Sta. Lucia, San Juan City. Tel. Nos. 952-1568 and

0998-5723360. For inquiries, e-mail [email protected] or visit Fundacion Sanso on Facebook.)

Exploring a timeless identity

It was a night that celebrated the cool and timeless identity of the Axe Black Man through the opening of the Explorers Social Club, the last of a series of Axe Black pop-up bar concepts, at Quantum Space in Makati City.

Axe Black Man Victor Basa, fellow Axe ambassador DJ Slick Rick, and teammates Coco Quizon, Julius Valledor and Max Curry were at the event to open the gates of the pop-up bar.

Victor said, “We really wanted to bring out the timeless interests and character of the Axe Black Man, so we borrowed a page from one of the oldest secret societies in the world, the Explorers Social Club.”

In the middle of the venue stood a teepee bar inspired by the members of the secret society of the time, with a modern look and feel interpreted through the glamping area and art installations. Guests also showed their competitive side at the Axe Arena, an area with ping pong and air hockey tables. Attendees were also treated to free temporary vintage tattoos and a creative photo. The event also showcased cars from Land Rover and Maserati, and café racers that stood by the entrance.

At the second level of the venue was the speakeasy bar/study where guests enjoyed the night’s whisky-based signature drink, The Black Flag. The third level brought the people to a special room, wherein a UV art installation lay, tickling the senses and enabling minds to wander.

(To know more about the Axe Black pop-up bar series and to recap all its three legs, visit www.axephilippines.com.)

Enjoy the finer things in life

Renowned Italian design brand, Alessi, brings forth its 2015 Spring/Summer collection for Filipinos to discover new ways of enjoying the finer things in life.

For this collection, the Italian brand, known for its premium houseware and delicate kitchen utensils, showcases its mastery of design fused with modern playfulness. High-profile names in the field of design, including Doriana and Massimilano Fuksas, Peter Zumthor and Marcel Wanders, tackle important themes related to preparing and serving food. In addition, new young Italian designers Valerio Sommella and Antonio Aricò make their debut in the Alessi and Adi Alessi catalogues.

The 2015 Spring/Summer collection includes “Souvenirs of Italy,” a project that celebrates the richness of “Italianness” with five decorative Alessi figurines including  the limited edition Alessandro M. Duomo di Milano corkscrew by Alessandro Mendini, which pays homage to the city of Milan and its main monument. The collection also has “Dressed” and “Dressed in Wood,” two projects by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, which are a complete range of products primarily for serving breakfast; “Colombina,” a collection of cutlery set with pieces of cutlery specifically designed to prepare and serve fish-based dishes by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas; and “Objects-Bijoux,” which consists of a bottle opener by Valerio Sommella, a pourer designed by Marta Sansoni, tube squeezer and cheese grater by Gabriele Chiave and Lorenza Bozzoli.

Since 1921, Alessi has consistently and successfully produced practical, modern designs for the home that speak of art and poetry. The brand has elevated simple, everyday items into beautiful adornments that discerning homemakers the world over have come to love.

(Visit Alessi stores at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig, Greenbelt 5 in Makati and Ayala Center Cebu.) (Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)