Filipino artistic talent is once again on display in Germany with the participation of two home-grown painters and a sculptor in the Berliner Liste 2017 – one of the German capital’s oldest and largest modern art fairs.

Fair visitors are drawn to Arnel Garcia’s surreal and thought-provoking face sculptures made of wood and resin, and Anafe Nemenzo’s intricate paintings, depicting dozens of tiny human figures, each one different from the rest.

Kevin Cubinar, a young licensed architect, presented paintings of human forms with emotional character. Not used to the attention, he nervously explained to visitors that each painting was inspired by recent events in his life.

The trio’s exhibit was made possible by Transwing Art Gallery, managed by Frankfurt-based art enthusiast, Mr. Klaus Hartung.

Human Figure 2 by Kevin Cubinar
(acrylic on canvas)

Hartung, along with his Filipino wife, are firm believers in Filipino talent. Transwing also has a gallery in Quezon City.

Ambassador Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek and Mr. Alvin Malasig, Head of the Philippine Embassy’s Cultural Section, graced the exhibit’s opening last September 14.

Now on its 14^th year, the fair has 90 exhibitors from 34 countries. Paying guests braved Berlin’s chilly weather and joined the 100 meter-long queue on the fair’s opening night to see various works of art, including paintings, graphic prints, drawings, mixed-media pieces, installations, and video presentations.

Luck of People by Anafe Nemenzo
(acrylic on canvas)

Art lovers are invited to visit the Berliner Liste 2017, especially the Transwing booth (located at the 1^st floor), at the Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof, along Straße der Pariser Kommune 8, 10243 Berlin. The fair runs until September 17.

The public is also invited to visit the artists’ next exhibit, which will feature a live art performance, on September 21, 6:30 pm, at the FCA Motor Village Rhein-Main, Hanauer Landstrasse 176, 60314 Frankfurt am Main. END

Facets of Faces Series 3 by Arnel Garcia
(wood and resin)

The Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) brought the house down with an epic performance of the works of Chun-Wai Wong (premiere), Max Bruch and Gustav Mahler at the prestigious Konzerthaus Berlin.  An international audience of over a thousand guests was stunned by the young musicians´ extraordinary talent and youthful enthusiasm. The concert was part of the Young Euro Classic, a festival which features the world’s best youth orchestras.

The AYO´s 109 members are among the finest young musicians from 11 Asian countries. Seven of its members are Filipino – Gabriel Art Mendoza and Leigh Cellano (violin), Joven Edward Aquisap (viola), Glenn Aquias (cello), Micah Lejandro Villena and Rey Vincent Sunglao (double bass), and Kevin Julius Castelo (percussion). They are students of the Conservatories of Music of the University of Santo Tomas, St. Scholastica´s College, and the University of the Philippines.

About 22,000 musicians between the age of 17 and 27 auditioned to become part of AYO. Those selected earn the privilege of coming under the tutelage of an exceptional artist-faculty of principals from Europe and the United States. Through the years, the orchestra has performed with world renowned artists including the Philippines´ very own concert pianist Cecile Licad.  Its founder and conductor, Richard Pontzious, ably assisted by co-conductor James Judd, has been molding talented young Asian musicians into a professional orchestra for the past 20 years.

AYO´s Berlin stop is part of this year´s three-week world tour with 11 arranged performances in Hong Kong, China, Japan, the United States, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Belgium. END

(Top) The members of the Asian Youth Orchestra take their bow after performing their last piece at the Young Euro Classic gala concert . (Bottom) Prior to the concert, Cultural Attache Mylah Rubio met with the 7 Filipino musicians of the AYO along with members of the Filipino community.