Artist makes PHL proud in Malaysian art expo

A Filipino artist did the country proud again at a recently concluded art expo in Malaysia, the Philippine embassy there said over the weekend.

The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Clarence Eduarte joined the 2014 Art Expo Malaysia (AEM), which opened with a VIP Preview Night Sept. 24.

"It is our honor to bring once again one of the shining stars in the Philippine arts scene to the Art Expo Malaysia. Mr. Eduarte is a fine example of what Filipino art is known for – bold, deeply expressive, always experimenting, and authentic," Ambassador Jose Eduardo Malaya said.

This is the second year the Philippine Embassy is participating in the AEM, which ran until September 28.

AEM, now on its eighth year, is the longest-running art fair in the region. It attracts nearly 400 artists from 78 exhibitors and galleries from 31 countries.

Some 2,000 pieces of art such as paintings, sculptures, installation, digital art and photography are exhibited.

For his part, Eduarte said painting is the best way to express God's given creativity in him.

"The creative process of my work fuels energy, passion and excitement regardless of any particular subject. My working method is very physical and spontaneous. I try to push the medium to its limit, and I love the element of surprise of what the painting can produce," he said.

Others in the AEM Embassy Row included Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Mongolia, and Romania.

Filipino-born Belgian artist Gina Frias represented Belgium in the Embassy Row, the embassy said.

The embassy said Eduarte won several Philippine art contests, including the Metrobank Foundation's Metrobank Art and Design Excellence and the Government Service Investment System's Painting Competitions.

His works are shown in well-known institutions and hotels in the Philippines, as well as in China and Singapore.  — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News