A JOINT fashion exhibition between Septième Rebelle and Fundacion Sansó christens Art Lounge Manila’s new flagship space in Alabang, site of the gallery’s first location.
Titled Voyageur, the collection presents designs by Robbie Santos of Septième Rebelle using the textile designs of Presidential Merit Awardee Juvenal Sansó. The master painter created textile designs for fashion houses such as Balenciaga before proceeding to painting. His style offered a fresh take on colors, patterns and materials, incorporating freer splashes of color reminiscent of abstract expressionism.
“Working with Robbie Santos, we found out that many of the patterns [Sansó] made could still be sourced in today’s textiles, proving the timelessness of his designs,” said Ricky Francisco, director of Fundación Sansó. He explained that the artist’s designs catered to a leisure-loving, post-war market that preferred youthful color and freedom of expression.
As for Santos, a fashion designer with an appreciation for fine art, Voyageur serves as his second collection to feature the Sansó textile prints. His designs were based on the selected prints of Fundacion Sansó that were translated onto fabric. Sansó’s studies of geometric and floral-printed fabrics inspired Santos to look for similar textiles as well.
The collection’s title, Voyageur, refers to the phenomenon of revenge travel. Thus, the pieces are designed for ease of movement, says Santos, comparing it to a “deluxe resort collection,” which deals with cotton blends for men and soft tailoring for women.
Meanwhile, because Sansó’s work was made in the 1950s and early 1960s, Santos utilizes the same classic feminine silhouettes of the era: A-line, flared, and serpentina skirts, plus the prominent use of ruffles and flowers.
“Despite having a timelessly elegant approach, I wanted to offer something new—bra tops, tank tops, T-shirts for the young market,” the designer says. “I also used an embroidery machine to sew ‘Sansó’ as a brand on the pants. This is my take on today’s logo-obsessed culture. The cuts on the pant leg are new—and so is the absence of belt loops. One has to fully examine a piece of clothing to see the details we have put on them.”
The fashion-art showcase aligns with Art Lounge Manila’s commitment to introducing fine art and Filipino culture to a wider audience over the combination of various art forms.
“We want to entertain, educate, and enrich those who enter our spaces,” said Susanne Tiausas, managing director of Art Lounge Manila. “We want to give the experience of learning from a visit to the museum and the entertainment from watching a live performance and just interacting with art and culture, but in a more accessible and less intimidating space. This is also the reason why we opt to be located in more commercial areas such as malls.”
The opening of Art Lounge Manila’s new flagship location at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang serves as a homecoming of sorts. Part of the Galerie Francesca Group, the gallery opened its first branch in Festival Mall Alabang 17 years ago.
“Although our clients come from far and wide, we consider the south to be our home and where the roots of our galleries really are,” Tiausas said. “We were proud to be part of a group of galleries that were the first ones to open up a space in the south.”
Tiausas added that Art Lounge Manila has more exhibits and collaborations lined up, set to showcase various art forms like dance, music, theater and literature, among others.
“We aim to create experiences where one or more—or all—of these different art forms interact with one another in a way that breathes new life into each art form and really gives our clients and audiences a well-rounded experience of art and culture,” she said, adding the space plans to support different advocacies, as well. “Art can not only make our individual lives better by bringing beauty and joy, but, in this manner, it can also tangibly and significantly make a difference.”
Voyageur opened at Art Lounge Manila.
(@artloungemanila) in Molito Lifestyle Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, on June 15 and is on view until today, June 28.