A house of memory

Lendl Arvin “Levin” Paras is a young painter I admire. He is the brother of noted artist Lynyrd Paras. I love Levin’s and Lynyrd’s works, a few of which I have in my small collection.

In his first solo exhibition at West Gallery titled 25CSTPVCC, Lendl Arvin recalled 15 years of his life spent in their house in Caloocan City. He painted objects imbued with personal history. Collectively called 15 in 25, they constitute a series of still-life works that act as points of remembrance, pinning down those 15 years.

For this exhibit, his art subjects included hangers, weighing scale, wood kindling, wall clock, chopping board, small bench, kerosene lamp, a tray of flatware, crates, lunch box, folding chair, shears, cross, sling, bolo knife. They were deliberately chosen by the artist as bearers of his old life.

In his works, even his grandmother and grandfather, two of the most significant people in the artist’s life, were metaphorically represented by the posts and beams that held the house together. His grandparents were also celebrated in moving portraits.

The house itself where the artist lived made an appearance in his art exhibit. Titled 400SQ, the work bore the silhouette of a house.

Lendl Arvin said, “I stayed within the four corners of our house in Caloocan where I built my dream.” It is a house of memory. 

Art writer Carlomar Arcangel Daoana noted, “The house is arranged like a jigsaw puzzle, displaying the objects that the artist would safeguard, as well as those that others would entrust and ask from him. Long lost or gone, they are here again — dentures, reading glasses, a blue boot — given a new life. In his early years, he was the keeper of things.”

Lendl Arvin graduated from the Technological University of the Philippines with a Fine Arts degree major in Advertising.  He was a finalist in the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Shell National Student Art Competition and a semi-finalist in 2012 for MADE (Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Awards).

After joining six group shows, he now had his first and well-deserved solo show. 

Congratulations, Levin!

(First row) Mona Acmad playing the dabakan and world-renowned kulintang player Aga Mayo Butocan; (second row, from left) Museo ng Kaalamang Katutubo Museum director Cora Alvina, SM SVP for marketing Millie Dizon, Anak Mindanao (AMIN) party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman and TAO Inc. founder Marian Pastor Roces.

Celebrating Muslim history & culture

The recent Muslim of the Philippines: History and Culture exhibit, held at  The Block at SM City North EDSA,  showcased a visually creative timeline of the history of Muslims in the Philippines. The exhibit, a joint partnership among TAO Inc., Anak Mindanao (AMIN) party list and SM, was curated by Marian Pastor Roces.

Displayed at the exhibit were artifacts, photos and timeline frames of the culture Muslims have shared with the Filipinos for the past 600 years. Included were gabbang (bamboo xylophone), panolong (a wing-like representation of vernacular Maranao houses called torogan) and a visual representation of the map of Mindanao and Sulu.

AMIN party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman welcomed guests with a heartfelt message, hoping that the exhibit could help Filipinos have a better understanding of the tradition and culture of the Muslim community.

Also seen at the launch were members of the Muslim community led by Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman, Museo ng Kaalamang Katutubo museum director Cora Alvina and National Commission for Culture and the Arts programming division chief Marichu Tellano.

Guests enjoyed the performance of world-class kulintang player and Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi awardee Mayo Butocan. There was also a display of colorful woven and embellished traditional costumes from the Maguindanaon, Yakan, Maranao and Tausug; as well as traditional Muslim delicacies and biscuits like the hantak, baulo, panganan, panyam, putlih mandi, panggi-panggi, pali kambing and pan pan.

Makati Shangri-La’s Shang Palace dim sum offerings.

Dim sum time!

Good news to dim sum lovers as Makati Shangri-La’s Shang Palace has made its dim sum, previously served only during lunch, available during dinnertime!

Enjoy a variety of a la carte dim sum during dinner until June 30. Selections include steamed crystal-skin shrimp dumplings (hakaw), steamed pork dumplings with fish roe, Shanghai xiao long pao, baked barbecued pork pie and deep-fried with diced scallops. The restaurant also accommodates special requests for vegetarian and allergen-free dim sum.

The restaurant’s Cantonese dim sum chef Leung Ka Fai and Cantonese manager Agnes Chua have made this offering extra special for guests who may now satisfy their night craving for authentic dim sum at Shang Palace.

(For inquiries, call 814-2580 or e-mail [email protected].)

Nobu’s Wagyu beef short-rib kare-kare anticucho and palabok.

Filipino-inspired favorites at Nobu

I was quite impressed by Nobu’s last event that featured signature Japanese-Peruvian cuisine with a Filipino twist by Nobu New York executive chef Ricky Estrellado and Nobu Manila head chef Mike de Jesus.

Now, dinner at Nobu Manila will highlight Filipino-inspired specials until June 30.

For this gastronomic experience, chef Mike de Jesus infuses into each of the Nobu special dishes distinct Filipino flavors and ingredients that complement the basic taste of Nobu cuisine that is popularized by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

The Nobu sushi bar special includes seared tuna sushi with coconut milk, whitefish adobo sushi style and snapper sushi with tomato salsa and salted egg. The main courses feature dishes like Kurobuta and foie gras sisig pica-pica, Nobu palabok and Wagyu beef short-rib kare-kare anticucho. This is held timely with the Flavors of the Philippines, the annual gastronomy festival by the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board.

(For reservations, call 800-8080 or e-mail [email protected].)

Pila sa Bigas (1979) by Vicente Manansala, oil on canvas, 36”x 48”.

‘Spectacular’

Leon Gallery’s Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2017, set on June 10, 2 p.m., is reportedly the most breathtaking selection of highly important works in a single sale to date. Jaime Ponce de Leon of León Gallery and curators Ramon Villegas and Lisa Guerrero Nakpil selected some of the most dazzling art pieces.

On the roster is Fishermen (40” x 80”, 1981) by National Artist for Visual Arts Ang Kiukok. The painting depicts three muscular fishermen casting their nets; there are seven gigantic fishes symbolizing the bounty of life. A red sun burns above. This theme is a most desired subject of the artist, whose name “Ang” can be seen spelled out in the position of the fishermen. 

Also included in the auction are Pila sa Bigas (1979) by National Artist for Visual Arts Vicente Manansala, Fabian de la Rosa’s Hat Weavers, which was acquired by actor George O’Brien when he visited the Philippines before the war.

“It is rare that these museum-quality artworks are exhibited at a single place — rarer still that they all come to market and to be sold in a single sale,” Ponce de Leon noted.

There are so many other great pieces in this auction!

(Visit www.leon-gallery.com for catalog access.)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)