Imperial challenge

Some Cebuanos think Manileños are smug. Manila denizens come to Cebu and start radiating these waves of infuriating superiority. The dreaded Imperial Manila mentality, guaranteed to irritate the most peaceable soul.

Of course, this imagined superiority is debunked over and over again, as there are countless ways where Manila cannot stack up against Cebu. But today, as of this writing, I have a sad realization. Manila is way ahead when it comes to art.

Before rallyists appear at my front door and I get hate mail, let me rush to explain. I am fresh out the door from the Contemporary Art Fair in Makati, where all the floors of the ordinarily multi-level carpark have been converted to art space for the week. I hate to say it, but Cebu ain’t got nothing on Manila in this round.

In over just a few years, the fair has grown by leaps and bounds. Not just size-wise, but as well in terms of prestige, international attention, and sheer enormity of concept.

Multiple galleries, some even from Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and elsewhere, have made camp. Prestigious outfits like Julius Baer are in town. Yayoi Kusama and Yoshitomo Nara works have been imported into our isles, together with Yogyakarta staples. A photography collection from New York is proudly displayed.

Needless to say, Filipino artists of international renown and talent are abundantly evident. Daniel de la Cruz, the sculptor du jour, was spot on with his Imaginarium show. Displaying rhinos, circus performers, and scarabs in a Cabinet of Curiosities concept, the show sold out on Day 1 despite his steep prices. On a personal level, my attention was caught by Anton del Castillo, whose racy, provocative works of nude men in gas masks, snakes and deer (go figure) were carried by at least three galleries.

Also sold out were the limited edition toy figurines offered by Secret Fresh, created by Charlie Co and Lynyrd Paras. At P5,000 a pop, or about a hundred bucks, they were affordable and real collectible. And those were probably the only things I could afford.

Kim Atienza has just finished a talk on collecting art. Wandering around is Charlie Co and his cakeconfectioner spouse, the proprietress of Ann Co Cakes. And since they were just hanging around at the fringes of the Orange Gallery booth, I inveigled Negrense artists Raymond Legaspi, Frelan Gonzaga, and Barry Cervantes to join me and Charlie in a prized photograph. I can’t imagine this ever happening in Cebu.

By the way, multiple art events are happening as I write. All the galleries have exhibits, book launches, performances, and concerts planned for the occasion. (I can’t wait to finish writing this and go out again.)

So this is the challenge for Cebu. Would anyone be willing and bold enough to mount a show like this in Cebu? One spectacular enough to lure collectors from all over Asia, if not the world?

That’s what a lot of cities in Asia are actually doing, such as Singapore and Hong Kong. Even Taiwan’s small cities like Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taichung have rushed into the fray. These cities are heavily subsidized by their local governments and institutions as they try to capture the international art market.

Would Cebu be willing to toss its hat into the ring? It has a handful of art spaces, but many talented artists. Is it time to showcase the best of Cebu art? Answers eagerly awaited.