10 years of 'verve and vigor': 2013 Ateneo Art Awards open for nominations

The Ateneo Art Awards is searching for young Filipino visual artists with outstanding works from the past year as it celebrates the best of contemporary Philippine art over the past decade. "As the Ateneo Art Gallery prepares to distinguish the most significant works from the previous year, this milestone allows the museum to look back and celebrate the best of contemporary Philippine art over the past decade," the Ateneo Art Gallery said in a press release. With the theme “Marking Time," the 2013 Ateneo Art Awards will recognize significant works from artists below the age of 36, with outstanding works in an exhibition between May 2, 2012 and May 1, 2013. "Continuing the pioneering spirit of the Gallery’s founding benefactor Fernando Zóbel de Ayala in recognizing the verve and vigor of youth, the Ateneo Art Awards remains steadfast, marching in place as it moves forward, marking time as the future unfolds," the release said. The Ateneo Art Awards have been given annually since 2004 to Filipino visual artists below the age of 36. According to the gallery, the recognition is reminiscent of how Zóbel de Ayala (1924-1984) supported young Filipino visual artists and through it, left an indelible mark in Philippine art history. "The barometer for excellence that is the Awards tethers time in the history it has written, celebrating works that have stood out amidst an artistic climate where enduring passion meets ever-changing values," the release said. Last year's winners were Martha Atienza, Riel Hilario and Maria Taniguchi. The three were selected from 12 short-listed artists and exhibitions. For the 2013 awards, those eligible to nominate are current or former members of the Ateneo Art Awards jury, public gallery directors or curators (commercial and non-commercial), independent curators, professional visual artists (must have participated in at least one solo or group exhibition in a public venue), art administrators, art journalists, art critics or art educators residing in the Philippines. This year's jury is composed of Ateneo Art Gallery director and chief curator Ramon Lerma, Ateneo de Manila University associate professor Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ, 2006/2008 Ateneo Art Awards winner Poklong Anading, Pinto Art Museum director Dr. Joven Cuanang, Singapore National Art Gallery curator Clarissa Chikiamco, Lopez Memorian Museum director Mercedes Lopez Vargas, and visual artist Paul Pfeiffer. Nomination forms for the 2013 Ateneo Art Awards: “Marking Time” are available for download at the Ateneo Art Gallery website.    The deadline for the nominations is on May 31, 5 p.m. The short-listed artists will be featured in the exhibition from August 2 to 12, 2013 at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-la Plaza. Meanwhile, the Ateneo Art Awards 10th Year Anniversary Exhibition will be held from August 6 to 14, 2013 at the East Wing Atrium, Shangri-La Plaza. Exhibitions continue from August 27 to December 7, 2013 at the Ateneo Art Gallery. — Carmela G. Lapeña/BM, GMA News