A SMART SHOPPER’S GUIDE TO ART
by Risa Regala Garcia

IF THE SUBJECT OF ART CONJURES IMAGES OF high-brow auctions and unattainable treasures, think again. Trickie Colayco Lopa, Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, co-Chairman of the Art in the Park Committee and blogger (www.manilaartblogger@wordpress.com), shares these invaluable tips to help the uninitiated navigate their way in this seemingly intimidating landscape.

Beginning Strokes

Look at what is out there. Trickie suggests looking online, paying a visit to the many galleries in the metro and of course attending exhibits and art fairs such as Art in the Park which is held annually in February at the Salcedo Park in Makati. If you have the chance to, Trickie recommends going to the ARTHK in Hong Kong as it is one of the most important fairs where you can view important pieces from international contemporary artists. The Singapore art fair and Singapore biennale are two fairs where Trickie says you can get a good taste of the Southeast Asian art scene. These fairs usually enjoy a good participation by our very own Filipino artists.

Educate Yourself

Read about art. Among the website updates Trickie regularly follows are award-giving bodies such as the Ateneo Art Awards http://gallery.ateneo.edu/artawards.html which gives recognition to artists thirty-five years old and below and the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Awards http://www.culturalcenter.gov.ph which recognizes
promising artists aged forty years old and below every three years.

Train your eye

Constantly viewing art helps you decide what you like and don’t like. Compare different artists’ work. Trickie encourages one to not be afraid to ask gallery owners questions about artists and art. Following blogs about the art scene is also a good idea.

Pitfalls to watch out for

Trickie advises that in general it is best to avoid spending a lot of money on a minor piece by a trendy artist. Try not to be taken in by talk of very limited pieces and round-the-block waiting lists. To be safe, go for a more significant piece by a more established artist.

Because of advanced technology, Trickie informs, it is now easier for contemporary artists to document their works. Many of them keep records and files of their while they are still in their studios. The more reputable galleries and museums also keep images and other pertinent data on each art work that they feature in-house or that passes through them.

Trickie laments that authenticating art becomes a difficult task when dealing with the work of the masters, particularly those who died before the 1990’s and the advent of the internet and computerized methods if keeping records. For the works of the masters such as Manansala, Legaspi, and Olmedo, Trickie recommends seeking the assistance of known collectors of their works (Friends of Manansala is one example) or dealing with the surviving relatives of the artist.

You can also peruse websites such as www.culturalcenter.gov.ph or www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph to gain a good working knowledge of Filipino artists and their art.

When to Buy

Decide based on what your budget allows and what your motivation is. If you are a beginning collector, going to exhibit openings gives you the chance to glean knowledge from the collectors, the gallery owners and the artists. They can give you guidance on which the critically acclaimed artists and more-established galleries are.

Art in the Park, annually held in February, features works by established as well as upand- coming artists at reasonable prices (nothing upwards of P20,000).

If you are buying an investment piece, reading up on the artist is advisable. Keeping abreast of auction sales will also give you an idea of what prices are like.

But most important is that you truly love whichever art piece you buy. After all, as Trickie
says, “There is no wrong or right when choosing art. Everything is subjective.”

artspeak

Tongue-tied when it comes to talking about art? This basic guide is sure to get you talkin’ the talk at the next gallery opening.

TYPES OF ART/ARTISTS

Figurative – a kind of modern art representing figures (human or animal).* Artists
are Fernando Amorsolo, Romulo Galicano, Botong Francisco.

Conceptual – art where concepts are given more importance than aesthetic concerns.*
Artists include Roberto Chabet, Nilo Ilarde, Gabby Barredo.

Abstract - uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which
may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.* Artists are Jose Joya, Jerry Navarro, Joaquin Palencia.

Installation - an artistic genre of site-specific, three-dimensional works designed to transform the perception of a space.* Artist is Jean Marie Syjuco.

Assemblage - 3-dimensional art made up of putting together found objects.* Artist is Jean
Marie Syjuco.

Collage –is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of
different forms, thus creating a new whole.* Artist is Roberto Chabet.

Print – art that is made up on ink on paper and existing in multiple examples.** Artists are Gromyko Semper, Manuel Rodriguez, Amiel Roldan.

Fine Art Photography – photographs that are created in accordance with the photographer’s creative vision.* Artists include Wawi Navarroza, Wig Tysmans.

Sources:
*Wikipedia
**Starr Figura. “What Is a Print?” Multimedia Online Interactive Projects 2001, MoMA.org,
18 Feb. 2010