A STRONG sense of hope and optimism prevailed in a recent online forum that tackled the post-pandemic future of art practice and art management.
The talk, titled Art Practice and Managing the Arts for a Post-Pandemic Future” was mounted by Galleria Duemila over the weekend and gathered experienced speakers from the respective fields. One was Bambina Jacinto Aseron, artist-entrepreneur and art consultant at Tarzeer Pictures, and the other, Trek Valdizno, visual artist and exhibitor.
“As long as there are walls and as long as people need someone who knows about art, to reach out to all these artists, and have some kind of eye to help choose and prepare in terms of design.” This was the answer of Aseron when asked about the future and relevance of art management. She also noted the sustained strong demand for artistic skills in the job market, whether in a post for an art gallery, or any other business that requires art direction in its bid to establish an online presence.
“With more people having access to information on the Internet, the appreciation for art and design is just going to keep growing,” said Aseron, who holds a BS degree in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Asia and the Pacific, and has studied classical painting and drawing at the Kline Academy in Los Angeles, California.
Aseron also works for a local auction house, where she has collaborated with Valdizno for commission works. She first learned of Valdizno’s art in the 2015 Art Fair Philippines, for the latter’s moving abstract piece, titled The Chariot. The work encapsulates the signature scale and vibrancy of the seasoned abstractionist. Valdizno studied at the College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines in Diliman, and has widely exhibited in museums and galleries.
For his part, Valdizno said all the time spent inside his home in Bulacan the past few years has helped his practice.
“I think the pandemic has made me a better artist, a better person,” he said. “I practice my painting more often than before. I can paint now every day. Before the pandemic, I only paint when I had that feeling, that urge. Today, I paint even without the urgency.”
The talk coincides with Valdizno’s ongoing fourth solo exhibition at Galleria Duemila, titled Beguiling Temptation. The exhibit runs until March 15, and is curated by guest curator Sandra Palomar.
A visual artist and art consultant, Palomar was also part of the online discussion, which was moderated by Galleria Duemila assistant art director Natalie Cruz.
“We can see that everyone is surrounded by art, and that there is this sheer possibility of making something out of nothing while we stay home 24/7,” Palomar said in her closing remarks. “And thanks to these serendipitous connections between the arts’ agents, we can all be hopeful for a future beyond this crisis.”