Public Art
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My daughter when she was 2 years old at the Museum of Modern Art. She didn't sit right on top of the Rodin... whew.
Before I decided to major in Urban Studies in university, I was working on a degree in Art. I got in to the best University with a Fine Arts program, but I didn't accept it. I wasn't sure I wanted to be an artist for a living. I had a strong acadamic background. So I ended up in "better" university (don't argue) with a degree specializing in Art History (focusing on Greek and Roman Art and Renaissance Architecture) and a major in Urban Studies. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do or be as an adult. Everyone else around me had goals and visions at 17 and 18. All I knew during high school was that I had to get a university degree and not end up in community college. Then during my freshman year in university I decided that architecture would be it. But I didn't have the high school prerequisite in calculus. So I did art history for four years... with snippets of courses in urban planning. I have no regrets.
When I moved to the Philippines on an urban planning-related Canadian project, I fell in love with the natural landscape of the country. I travelled everywhere. From Ilocos Norte to Zamboanga. The Philippines is really beautiful. However, the built environment - the architecture, the infrastructure, the cities - were a bit of a let-down (and I'm already being nice). This is not a post ranting about how ugly our cities are... or how there's absolutely no urban planning here. I won't even go there. This is about the absence of public art in public spaces. I don't think there's a problem with public space, for historically Philippine towns revolved around plazas and churches all open to the public. We still have those... and more. Like public basketball courts where people like to congregate. We also have a beautiful national park - Luneta.
I couldn't put my finger on what else was missing in city life here. I was exposed to the creative world - artists, painters, designers, writers, film makers. This town is over flowing with creativity if you know where to find it. Then a couple of years ago, I noticed that Bonifacio Global City had actually invested in public art. Good public art. And touchable ones. Art my kids could touch, climb on, and play with. And that's when I realized what this city needed.
My then 4-year old daughter whispering to "Hearsay" by Reg Yuson
Hearsay by Reg Yuson. There is miniature version currently on display in Bonifacio High Street.
Rey Paz Contreras had shown me his plans for this monumental sculpture months before it went up in Bonifacio. This is a miniature version currently on display in Bonifacio High Street.
From what I remember, the City of Toronto had a law mandating developers to commit 1% of their total project budget to public art in public spaces. You'll notice that most sky scrapers will have some sculpture near the side walk. Things like this won't initially strike you as useful. Some may even argue about the beauty or ugliness of the "art". But art is totally subjective. And having creative pieces around you everyday can spark inspiration or can just make you feel at ease.
Patrick and I at the Massachusetts Instititute of Technology in 2002. Hanging around a large bronze sculpture by Henry Moore
My exposure to and fondness for Henry Moore began in my early teens. Maybe because I had to sketch The Archer a hundred times in different sunlight and different angles for my high school art project. Then right outside the Art Gallery of Ontario Two Large Forms became our playground during university. There is also an amazing space at the AGO devoted to Henry Moore. So Henry Moore was my favourite sculptor then and now.
Back to Bonifacio Global City. There are no Henry Moores there. But the place certainly isn't lacking in public art. I think it's an excellent initiative by their arts foundation to support our local artists and to expose the public to interesting and interactive art. Naturally we expose our children to all forms of art. I spared them the exercise of memorizing names of artists by cue cards. There'll be enough of that should they decide to study art history. Useless information that clogged my brain - dates, names and gallery names. Instead I ask them about what they see, how it feels and what they like about the work or the space. Sophia didn't care much about Rodin in the first photo. But she did like Van Gogh's Starry Night and Monet's Water Lilies. Those photos are all in my flickr.
They also love this sculpture in High Street. I can't remember the name of the artist right now.
Specific Gravity by Reg Yuson is also a major crowd-drawer.
It doesn't all have to be pretty. It doesn't really have to make sense. But if you make art available to the public... if you let them touch it... take pictures of it... pose beside it... something positive happens. You won't exactly be able to quantify its effect. But it'll be there.
The public. Enjoying "public art"
Carlos Celdran's City Art Tour at the BGC Passionfest begins in 30 minutes. I apologize for the delay in posting this. Try to catch him if you're near High Street. If not, you can always try asking him for a repeat or private tour.
.
My daughter when she was 2 years old at the Museum of Modern Art. She didn't sit right on top of the Rodin... whew.
Before I decided to major in Urban Studies in university, I was working on a degree in Art. I got in to the best University with a Fine Arts program, but I didn't accept it. I wasn't sure I wanted to be an artist for a living. I had a strong acadamic background. So I ended up in "better" university (don't argue) with a degree specializing in Art History (focusing on Greek and Roman Art and Renaissance Architecture) and a major in Urban Studies. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do or be as an adult. Everyone else around me had goals and visions at 17 and 18. All I knew during high school was that I had to get a university degree and not end up in community college. Then during my freshman year in university I decided that architecture would be it. But I didn't have the high school prerequisite in calculus. So I did art history for four years... with snippets of courses in urban planning. I have no regrets.
When I moved to the Philippines on an urban planning-related Canadian project, I fell in love with the natural landscape of the country. I travelled everywhere. From Ilocos Norte to Zamboanga. The Philippines is really beautiful. However, the built environment - the architecture, the infrastructure, the cities - were a bit of a let-down (and I'm already being nice). This is not a post ranting about how ugly our cities are... or how there's absolutely no urban planning here. I won't even go there. This is about the absence of public art in public spaces. I don't think there's a problem with public space, for historically Philippine towns revolved around plazas and churches all open to the public. We still have those... and more. Like public basketball courts where people like to congregate. We also have a beautiful national park - Luneta.
I couldn't put my finger on what else was missing in city life here. I was exposed to the creative world - artists, painters, designers, writers, film makers. This town is over flowing with creativity if you know where to find it. Then a couple of years ago, I noticed that Bonifacio Global City had actually invested in public art. Good public art. And touchable ones. Art my kids could touch, climb on, and play with. And that's when I realized what this city needed.
My then 4-year old daughter whispering to "Hearsay" by Reg Yuson
Hearsay by Reg Yuson. There is miniature version currently on display in Bonifacio High Street.
Rey Paz Contreras had shown me his plans for this monumental sculpture months before it went up in Bonifacio. This is a miniature version currently on display in Bonifacio High Street.
From what I remember, the City of Toronto had a law mandating developers to commit 1% of their total project budget to public art in public spaces. You'll notice that most sky scrapers will have some sculpture near the side walk. Things like this won't initially strike you as useful. Some may even argue about the beauty or ugliness of the "art". But art is totally subjective. And having creative pieces around you everyday can spark inspiration or can just make you feel at ease.
Patrick and I at the Massachusetts Instititute of Technology in 2002. Hanging around a large bronze sculpture by Henry Moore
My exposure to and fondness for Henry Moore began in my early teens. Maybe because I had to sketch The Archer a hundred times in different sunlight and different angles for my high school art project. Then right outside the Art Gallery of Ontario Two Large Forms became our playground during university. There is also an amazing space at the AGO devoted to Henry Moore. So Henry Moore was my favourite sculptor then and now.
Back to Bonifacio Global City. There are no Henry Moores there. But the place certainly isn't lacking in public art. I think it's an excellent initiative by their arts foundation to support our local artists and to expose the public to interesting and interactive art. Naturally we expose our children to all forms of art. I spared them the exercise of memorizing names of artists by cue cards. There'll be enough of that should they decide to study art history. Useless information that clogged my brain - dates, names and gallery names. Instead I ask them about what they see, how it feels and what they like about the work or the space. Sophia didn't care much about Rodin in the first photo. But she did like Van Gogh's Starry Night and Monet's Water Lilies. Those photos are all in my flickr.
They also love this sculpture in High Street. I can't remember the name of the artist right now.
Specific Gravity by Reg Yuson is also a major crowd-drawer.
It doesn't all have to be pretty. It doesn't really have to make sense. But if you make art available to the public... if you let them touch it... take pictures of it... pose beside it... something positive happens. You won't exactly be able to quantify its effect. But it'll be there.
The public. Enjoying "public art"
Carlos Celdran's City Art Tour at the BGC Passionfest begins in 30 minutes. I apologize for the delay in posting this. Try to catch him if you're near High Street. If not, you can always try asking him for a repeat or private tour.
.