The world of leeroy New aT SM CiTy GeNSaN

ANew, glimpse into the world of award-winning artist Leeroy

a space filled with alien-like figures, fantastic sculptures and larger-than-life installations. Young and dynamic artists in the land of Dreamweavers. A Maguindananoan filmmaker’s stories of his people and their struggles.

Mallgoers had the rare opportunity to view the works of artists from the SOCCSKARGEN or SOX region when My City, My SM, My Art recently made a stop at SM City GenSan. This visual tableau showcased the region’s multicultural arts scene where young artists take inspiration from both indigenous and modern influences.

The SOX region in south-central Mindanao includes four provinces — South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani — as well as two cities Cotabato City and General Santos. Known as the 12th paradise of the Philippines, it has extensive coastlines, valleys and mountain ranges. Adventurous travelers may wish to conquer the vast mountain wilderness or explore the many forests, caves and wildlife reserves.

The SOX region is also known for its cultural diversity — the artistry of the different ethnic tribes that lends richness to local colors, as does the Muslim culture’s rich heritage. The settlers from Luzon and the Visayas, on the other hand, bring the colonial and the contemporary into the mix, resulting in a wonderfully woven tapestry that is distinctly Mindanaoan.

A joint project of SM, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Shell Philippines, the Philippine STAR, with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Centerstage Productions, My City, My SM, My Art is a celebration of Philippine visual arts: painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and filmmaking.

The campaign brings art and people together by showcasing the works of masters, modernists and millennials in a roadshow around the SM Supermalls. Advocating art for all, the team works with communities to mount exhibits, workshops and contests in key cities around the Philippines.

First Lady of Sarangani Province Michelle Solon attended the event, together with GenSan City Councilor and Tourism committee chairman Shandee Pestaño-Llido and public information chief Rombel Catolico.

GenSan’s prominent Salazar family led by Roman Salazar, Pat Salazar, Luzviminda Salazar-Velos and Raymond Salazar came in full force to give support to family member artist Bing Cariño, while the Gaws, relatives of Leeroy New, welcomed him back to his hometown. Project partners from the Metropolitan Museum of Manila Nelda Sansaet and JasonVicedo were also present. SM officials led by SM senior vice president for marketing Millie Dizon, SM City General Santos assistant mall manager engineer Hermon Hernandez and SM Supermalls AVP for marketing Russel Alaba warmly welcomed them.

Guests enjoyed the program, which included an AVP hosted by Michelle Solon, featuring the amazing works of artists from the SOX region. These works were exhibited in and around the My Art Gallery, which was inspired by the traditional Maranao House in Mindanao.

These included the works of artists from Sarangani Province: Ronald Tamfalan, a T’boli who derives his colors from nature — tree sap, soil, clay mud, and limestone — mixing these with other media to create a variety of hues; and award-winning photographer Tito Hare Santillana who has captured the beauty and people of his home province through his camera.

Historic Cotabato City showed why it is a rising star in the region, not only because of its majestic destinations but also because of upcoming artists like graphic artist, costume designer and choreographer Jmac Acol. Award-winning director director Teng Mangansakan, who was born in Cotabato and raised in Maguindanao, highlights Muslim culture in different aspects: family, faith and tradition in his films like Cartas de

Soledad, which won the Netpac Award in the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival in 2011.

Also featured were the works of young artist Mark Ty from South Cotabato, which reveal the eclectic culture of the “breadbasket of the South” — the traditions of their tribal heritages infused with a distinctly Mindanaoan flavor.

The highly urbanized General Santos City is not only the center of trade, commerce and logistics in the SOX growth area, but also the gateway for tourism and culture in the region. This was shown through the works of Leonardo Rey “Bing” Cariño, whose amazing talent bridges both the visual and performing arts; and Marthin Anthony Millado, a graphic and traditional artist, an illustrator and 3D animator.

The highlight of the event showcased the works of award-winning artist Leeroy New who was born and raised in General Santos City. A graduate of the Philippine High School for the Arts and the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, his practice today overlaps with and intersects with film, theater, product design and fashion.

Many of his works are inspired by mythology, film and video games. Be- sides his fascination for Philippine folklore and western legends, he has expressed interest in Kaiju or giant monsters in Japanese anime and television.

As an artist, he has staged numerous exhibitions and public art projects. New has been invited to participate in the 2008 Singapore Biennale and the 2009 Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale.

He has recently ventured into product design and his works have been exhibited as part of the Design Philippines Pavilion in the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan in 2013 and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York in 2014.

New also experiments with wearable art and has recently shown his brand of experimental fashion at the Istanbul Forum Fashion Week in 2013. He also designs sets, costumes and puppets for film, theater and dance productions and is a constant collaborator of the site-specific theater company Sipat Lawin Ensemble. And then, of course, there is the iconic muscle dress he created with Kermit Tesoro, which Lady Gaga wore for the video “Marry the Night.”

Leeroy New has received several citations for his work including the Grand Prize in sculpture in the 2005 Metrobank Art Awards; the 2009 Ateneo Art Awards where he was awarded the La Trobe Residency Grant in Australia and the Artesan Residency Grant in Singapore. He received the prestigious Cultural Center of the Philippines 13 Artists Award in 2012 and the Metrobank Foundation Award for Continuing Excellence and service.

With its aim of bringing art and people together, My City, My SM, My Art also conducted painting on collage workshop conducted by Bing Cariño. John Richard Lim won the Grand Prize, which included SM gift certificates.

My City, My SM, My Art is a take-off from the previous My City, My SM campaign which promotes tourism, My City, My SM, My Cuisine, which highlights regional culinary specialties, and My City, My SM, My Crafts, a celebration of traditional art and modern Philippine design in cities where SM has malls. My City, My SM, My Art’s next stop will be in SM City Tarlac.

Master artist Leeroy New (right) with SM SVP for marketing communications group Millie Dizon (center) and SM AVP for marketing for VisMin Russel Alaba (left) beside Leeroy New’s “Gatekeeper”

Project partners from the Metropolitan Museum of Manila Nelda Sansaet and Jason Vicedo with SM SVP for marketing Millie Dizon beside Bing Cariño’s “Madonnas of the Tri-people”

Leeroy New’s GenSan relatives aunt Nene and uncle Timorai and cousins proudly pose beside his “3mp3r4+r!$pl34$3”

The SOX region’s amazing artists (from left to right) master artist Leeroy New, Leonardo Rey “Bing” Salazar-Cariño, Tito Hare Santillana, John Michael Acol, Mark Ty, Thea Monica Tiongco, representative of direk Teng Mangansakan, Ronald Tamfalan and...

The First Lady of Sarangani Province Michelle Solon at the launch of My City, My SM, My Art in General Santos

Graphic and traditional artist, illustrator and 3D and traditional animator Marthin Anthony Millado beside his works “Ulad’s Gift” and “Through the Eyes of the Busaw”

The prominent Salazar family of General Santos headed by Roman Salazar, Pat Salazar, Luzviminda Salazar-Velos, and Raymond Salazar came in full force to support one of their members, Bing Cariño, who was exhibiting his works in My Art.

The My City My SM My Art Gallery is inspired by the Maranao house in Mindanao

Leeroy New’s “Psychopomp: Millipede” is made of fiberglass, resin, plastic, and found objects.

Bing Cariño’s talent bridges both the visual and performing arts. Here with his “Tri-people Madonna Triptych”

Cotabato graphic artist, costume designer, and choreographer John Michael Acol beside his artwork “Visages 1 (Sea if Fates)”

“Tugtog ni Lola” by Sarangani artist Ronald Tamfalan highlights his T’boli roots.

Multi-awarded artist Leeroy New with his artwork “Seraph,” which he fashioned from fiberglass, automotive paint and stainless steel base

Maguindanaoan filmmaker Teng Mangansakan’s award-winning works tell stories of his people and their struggles, which he says are stories of Filipinos, too.

“Colorful Life” by award-winning photographer Tito Hare Santillana, who captures the beauty and people of his home province of Sarangani with his camera.

Like other young artists in the land of Dreamweavers, artist Mark Ty hopes to promote the diverse Mindanaoan art and culture with his work.

Sergio Seno won second place for the Collage Printing workshop.

SM City General Santos assistant mall manager Hermon Hernandez and GenSan’s City public information office head Rombel S. Catolico

General Santos City Councilor and Tourism committee chairman Shandee Pestaño-Llido

Tito Hare Santillana’s photograph “Colorful Life”

“Be’s Grandmother” by Ronald Tamfalan. His paintings and sculptures convey much of his tribe’s history.

Violinist Bryan Cagas serenaded the audience with a classical rendition of “Ed Sheeran’s Perfect.