Metro Manila woke up to heavy rain and flooding on Friday morning. The thought of art could brighten a boring and gloomy day. Guess what? An art exhibit opens this August 22 to September 13 at the Alliance Française de Manille in Makati City. The Liwanag at the Lumière art exhibit, which first opens at 6:30 pm, is it worth it?
Best to go and find out. The evening weather was kind with dry weather throughout. A relaxed atmosphere greets any guests as they step into the art exhibit. Early guests get to socialize with wine and drinks.
This long-awaited collaboration between Alliance Française de Manille and The Monarch Art Gallery has finally happened. The collaboration introduces the five female artists of the evening. The five compelling artists are Raeche, Mylene Quito, Life Dawn Cervero, Jinky Rayo, and Rai Cruz.
Get a glimpse of the artists’ work as you scan the room from right to left. The Chasing Light is the first painting that welcomes the guests to the exhibit. It first shows the ballerina movement splashing through the canvas. Raeche expresses her inner Abstract Expressionist as a skillful ballerina.
Then straight down to the room at the bar and across are two more compelling sets of artworks. The artworks from Mylene Quito and Rai Cruz shout colors. Masterful pieces that would a glass of wine before you could sip it.
You keep looking around until a set of paintings stops you. A real eye catcher is the circular canvases from the artist Life Dawn Cervero. It pulls you straight to the serene scene of the moon rising over the gentle waves of the ocean. Miss Cervero’s more compelling masterpiece is the bigger canvas among the three circular artworks. Miss Cervero said that this scene is when she visited Anilao, Batangas.
It is how she remembers the moon rising from the sea waves of Anilao. Where it felt calm before you tucked yourself into bed. The painting shows the gentle stroke of a woman’s hand on the canvas. The fine, gentle strokes that leave no strand of bristles.
You end your scan with a minimalist set of artwork. Jinky Rayo’s work calmly rests your thoughts. The two-tone color abstract paintings end calmly for the guests. The green and yellow abstract strips swipe out your overload of colors. It slowly pulls you away to reflect on what light and life are to these paintings.
A colorful journey to Monarch’s art exhibit is worth the experience. The art pieces are worth looking at when you are feeling gloomy. The art pieces are on display until September 13. Admission is free.
