1st Filipino painter in the 2009 Florence Biennale

This is an interesting article that was posted from FB – The Philippines – written by Philip Paraan for Good News Pilipinas – there are so many talented Pinoys all over the world that I am proud to say that I belong…I do miss the islands and i think its beckoning for me to come home!  Its all in the works and with God guidance and my parents, I think i might be coming home soon!  Read this story about the 1st Filipino painter to be part of the 2009 Florence Biennale recognization – HOOORAH…to be a filipino!  😀

Heres the story:

Artist Maxbal Balatbat also known as Maxbal is bound for the 7th Florence Biennale and it is certainly a cause for celebration in the art community and the whole country.

Florence Biennale is an international art fair showcasing a select number of artists from all over the world. In 2007, Chati Coronel, a writer poet was the first Filipino to have joined event. However, this time Maxbal will be the first painter to display his work.

According to Maxbal, ” his representation in the event is not just for himself, but a triumph of struggling Filipino artists like him” . He said while he feels elated and very humbled to have been extended an invitation as only few artists get the chance to be part of the said event.

“Avenida Manila”, his massive canvas on the poignant life in the teeming red life district in Manila will be Balatbat’s exhibition piece.

A visual artist with an actively engaged practice for more than a decade now , Maxbal has been figuring in his unique style called architectural abstraction, which are esthetic interpretations of storied edifices and structures.

He earlier this year, he won two major art prizes in row, the grand prize in GSIS Art Competition’s Non-Representational Category and grand prize in the 2009 Art Association of the Philippines – AAP-ECCA Abstract Painting Competition.

Throughout the years, his art has been exhibited in many galleries and art venues, among them the Cultural Center of the Philippines, GSIS Museum. He is also one of the forces behind the art group called Sininggang Art Collective whose members are all alumni of the University of the East, College of Fine Arts.

Meanwhile, Florence Biennale is a prestigious international art event held every two years in Florence, Italy and is being sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the United Nations. As a cultural institution, it has the trust ” Dialogue Among Civilizations” which in years has been venue of meaningful cultural exchanges and international friendship and solidarity. The exhibit is participated by artists from all over 80 countries. For individual artists, it is a great platform to celebrate and promote their art.

The seventh edition of the Biennale Internazionale dell’ Arte Contemporonea of Florence will be held from December 5 to 13 in the historical Fortezza de Basso. As part of the event, achievements are conferred to artist who have made seminal contributions which delivered impacts in the in their respective and the

This year’s honorees will be Marina Abramovic from Yugoslavia, a pioneering figure in installation and performance art and Chinese artist Shu Yong. Previous awardees include Gilbert and George Christo, J. Claude, Anuszkiewicz , David Hockney.