Sign of the Times

To Pasay City in the Philippines comes a new exhibition platform spearheaded by art and design show organiser Stephanie Frondoso, interior designer and founder of a-11 Eric Paras, and industrial designer Stanley Ruiz. signum (Latin for ‘sign’) aims to bring together creatives from a broad spectrum of disciplines. ‘We invite all types of creators and provide them with a curatorial theme for every show,’ says Frondoso. signum’s aim is to be relevant to the current zeitgeist, and because artists these days find themselves experimenting and participating in widely varied fields, it made sense to create a platform that could capture this multidisciplinary spirit.

signum’s inaugural show, Memories, was held in November 2018 at a-11. ‘For the theme, we drew inspiration from the venue itself,’ Frondoso explains. a-11 is one among a compound of restored 1950s heritage homes now repurposed and converted into a multi-use space. Its rich architectural history sparks nostalgia, and inspired ideas from all of signum’s 22 participants. ‘Objects are a trigger for memories,’ Frondoso continues. ‘When one is reminded of a particular time in their lives, hears a song or smells a fragrance, something delightful and surprising can be communicated.’

Crochet artist Aze Ong’s opening night performance, for example, involved a large piece of crochet art that was both a costume and an essential element of the performance. That same night, Gary-Ross Pastrana talked about his work as an artist and curator, while Rita B Gudiño presented a video on kiln firing and its transformation into performance art. Miguel Aquilizan and Jessica Dorizac discussed their carabao bone rings — objects that function as miniature sculptures as well as jewellery. Even the panel discussion, led by director and chief curator of Ateneo Art Gallery Boots Herrera, focused on the crossover between art and design, particularly in relation to objects.

‘The show gave us an opportunity to gain a deep understanding of each participant’s practice,’ Frondoso explains. ‘There’s so much to learn just by seeing creatives present their portfolios.’

For now, signum has taken on a life of its own. The platform doesn’t conform to the standard gallery model, which programmes events and exhibits every month. Instead, the group plans to hold only three exhibitions each year, leaving more time for ideas to incubate.

‘signum’s next show will be of artist-made jewellery,’ says Frondoso. An exhibition like this requires extensive research; she has delved deep into history and symbolism, even attending From Calder to Koons: Jewellery by Artists at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. This kind of undertaking reflects signum’s focus on thematic depth and thorough research, giving the art and design world much to look forward to.