Rockwell Land and Salcedo Auctions: An artful alliance
MANILA, Philippines - Let’s start this like T.S. Eliot, “Let us go then, you and I…” Wait, where shall we meet?
At Amorsolo or Luna? Stop by Rizal or maybe Hidalgo, perhaps. Snatch a quick glance at the quiet magnificence of Edades, while somewhere Manansala and Joya stun in the deep violet night sky. We are not in a museum complex, Virginia. We’re not leafing through thick art books admiring the works of the Filipino masters, the Pinoy rock stars of yore in visual arts. We are in Rockwell Center and the buildings are named after the greats: Amorsolo Square, Luna Gardens, Rizal Tower, Hidalgo Place, Edades Tower and Garden Villas, The Manansala, Joya Lofts and Towers. High art and culture have a place in this here cluster of luxury residences.
Herein thrives Art.
“There’s an association between quality living and great artworks,” explains Miguel L. Lopez, senior vice president and general manager of Rockwell Property Management Corp. One of the thrusts of Rockwell Land is to offer elegant high-rise living and at the same time pay tribute to the masters of Philippine art.
Lopez says, “There’s a natural affinity between art and Rockwell Land. We’d like to think that the projects we’ve created are also masterpieces in their own right. It’s the Lopez family’s love for art that inspired us to name them as such.”
The Lopezes’ eye for art, you can see it all over Rockwell.
Miguel shares, “For my family, culture has played a very important part in bringing generations together. It’s a legacy that my grandfather (Eugenio “Eñing” Lopez Sr.) started, and it has been passed on to us. My father (Manuel “Manolo” Lopez, Philippine Ambassador to Japan, chairman of Rockwell Land) was an early supporter of BenCab; (my dad) has also built up his own extensive collection over the years and the love of art has rubbed off on us, his children. Hopefully, the same thing with our kids.”
Miguel’s cousins at ABS-CBN headed by Gabby Lopez have formed the network’s very own philharmonic orchestra. Cedie Lopez-Vargas works as the executive director of the Lopez Memorial Museum. Pretty soon the Proscenium, Rockwell Land’s latest condominium project, will house the Lopez Museum and Library, an art gallery, specialty shops for the artistic, edgy cafes and restaurants, as well as its own 700-seater theater for the performing arts.
“The Proscenium raises the bar, not just for me, but most especially for people who will be living here,” explains Lopez. “It enhances the whole Rockwell experience, complementing what we already have — the Power Plant Mall, the Rockwell Club, the luxury residences. It completes the Rockwell story.”
And to advance the story, the idea is to create a cultural hub right within the walls of Rockwell.
“It’s because of love for art more than anything,” says Miguel. “Just like artists, we look at every single aspect of what we do. That’s our signature. At Rockwell, we study all the details, so that the end result is also a masterpiece.”
Now think of this as a good sort of Inception: masterpieces within a masterpiece.
Artworks by Manansala et al are to be auctioned off on Sept. 20, Saturday, and Sept. 21, Sunday, at Rockwell Tent. A long-lost work by an old Philippine master will also be revealed to the public for the first time. A preview of the lots on offer will be at the Proscenium Lounge, Kirov Model Unit, Rockwell from Sept. 6 to 19.
Salcedo Auctions — in partnership with Rockwell Land, Philippine Tatler and Jaguar — is the main presenter of “The Well-Appointed Life: An Auction Weekend.”
“Everything started here,” recalls Salcedo Auctions adviser Richie Lerma, referring to the “Victorio C. Edades: Father of Modern Philippine Art” carried out by Salcedo Auctions in 2010 at the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell Center.
“This is our third collaboration with Salcedo Auctions,” says Lopez. “And we’re proud of the projects we have developed. Because of Salcedo Auctions, people no longer have to go to Hong Kong or Singapore (to be able to purchase masterpieces). I am looking forward to seeing works by Joya or Fernando Zobel and Anita Magsaysay-Ho if there are some — and, of course, BenCab who’s a personal favorite and very close to the family.”
Aside from the Philippine Art category, there are three other categories up for auction: the Connoisseur Collection (objects of merit — antiques, sterling silver, vintage single malts, leather goods, hand-knotted oriental carpets… around 130 lots); Rare Automobiles (each of the six to eight cars are uncommon, unique, and from different eras); as well as Fine Jewelry & Timepieces (pedigreed pieces by some of the world’s most distinguishes names in jewelry — Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany and Company — and watches — Patek Philippe, Breguet, Rolex). Everything from high-end wonders to excellent yet very affordable marvels.
Lerma points out two artworks that will surely interest bidders: Ang Kiukok’s “Thinking Man” and Vicente Manansala’s “Enlightenment.”
He explains, “Kiukok’s powerful painting showing a seated human figure engrossed in thought and set against an energetic crimson background is highly charged presentation of contrasts in the vein of figurative expressionism.” About the Manansala, he says, “The artist described the painting as a symbol of Filipino pride: the carabao proudly holding its head aloft, bravely facing the sun, an evocative picture of triumph over adversity.”
Triumph over adversity, creating beauty out of nothing — these are masterstrokes.
Lopez agrees. He points out the parallel between making art and constructing luxury residences.
“Just like in good art, you have to focus a lot on the details,” Lopez says. Then you can admire what you’ve created from afar. Let’s say you came in from EDSA. You’d look at Rockwell and go, ‘Wow, those are beautiful buildings.’ A lot of thought, a lot of planning, a lot of care went into them.”
He pauses. The room where we’re conducting the interview is lined with paintings, jars and books.
“That’s why they’re masterpieces.”
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For inquiries, call 659-4094 or email info@salcedoauctions.com.
