RISING visual artist Kenneth John Montegrande will hold his fifth solo art show, titled Limitless: The Art of Kenneth Montegrande, at Lotus Garden Hotel on A. Mabini Street corner Faura Street in Ermita, Manila, on November 29 at 6 pm.
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Ermita, the solo art exhibit will benefit The Rotary Foundation’s “End Polio Campaign” and Pangarap Foundation Inc.
For a self-taught abstract artist like Montengrande, painting has become an avenue for him to translate his optimism in canvas.
“I’ve always been positive painter and much of my work tend to exude optimistic feelings and messages. In every situation, no matter how bad, I make sure to always look at the bright side and translate those emotions into positive thoughts through my canvas. Lahat naman ng bagay laging may positive side ’yan; it’s up to us kung paano natin iha-handle ’yung situations,” he said.
In his younger years, Montegrande wanted nothing more than to express his talent for painting. He joined and won several contests for junior artists. These days, Montegrande has been in touch with his creative side. Through the guidance of world-renowned visual artists Fidel Sarmiento and Pancho Piano, he has been creating colorful pieces which center on abstract expressionism and impressionism, as well as minimal abstract.
The good-looking artist recalled how his career as a visual artist started. Montegrande was then a communication strategist and spokesman of the Department of Tourism for the National Parks Development Committee when he met some members of the Intramuros Visual Artists of the Philippines in 2013.
“I met some of the visual artists and I fell in love with their paintings. Then I started to buy art materials. I tried to paint, and they told me to just paint.” Montegrande then honed his skills in painting at the Kanlungan ng Sining (Artists Haven), which is near his office at the Rizal Park. “After office hours, I go there to paint with the members of the Art Association of the Philippines. Then I continued to paint in the house.”
On November 29, 2016 Montegrande finally staged his first solo exhibit at the Olive Bistro Bar and Restaurant in Manila, which is owned by the family of his friend Daryl Morales. Part of the proceeds of his art show went to the victims of Supertyphoon Yolanda. A few months after, through the generosity of his friend, D. Edgard A. Cabangon Chua, now the chairman of the ALC Group of Cos., Montegrande staged two more solo arts shows for various causes at the City State Tower Hotel on February 3, and at the historical Manila Grand Opera Hotel on February 27, both in 2014. Proceeds generated from these art shows were also donated to the victims of Yolanda in Eastern Samar and typhoon Agaton in the Visayas and Mindanao, through the Antonio L. Cabangon Chua (ALC) Foundation.
On August 31 Montegrande’s fourth solo art exhibit was featured at Prime Palettes: The Art of Fine Living by Megaworld Prime RFO at Venue 142 on Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. At the event, Montegrande and Megaworld Prime RFO highlighted the term “palettes,” with its similarly in art and property design while raising one’s taste for the finer things in life.
A generous portion of the proceeds of Prime Palettes was donated to displaced families of Marawi City, which was recently affected by armed conflict.
One of Montegrande’s patrons is multiplatinum award-winning singer and composer David Pomeranz. Of his paintings, Pomeranz said: “The paintings of Kenneth Montegrande leave me breathless. He combines raw emotion and beauty with a craft I’ve rarely seen anywhere—inspired, free, imaginative and masterfully done. Kenneth is one of the true ‘greats’ and, I predict in short order, his work will be honored and beloved all over the world.”
Montegrande said that there should be no limit in doing art. “If you’re doing abstract, the freedom is there. No limitations, no boundaries…it’s about expression. You just have to have patience, strength and passion to achieve or create a breathtaking obra. Parang sa buhay natin, we always have the time and freedom to get what we want and to achieve our ambition. That’s why I really love abstract painting. Magulo kung titingnan mo sa simula, but kung ia-appreciate mo at uunawain, napakaganda, parang takbo ng buhay ng tao.”
Other personalities who appreciate the paintings of Montegrande were the late ALC Group of Cos. Founder and Chairman Emeritus and former Lao PDR Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua; D. Edgard Cabangon, chairman of the ALC Group of Cos.; world-renowned, multiawarded industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue; architect David Ng, owner of Kimberly Hotel; lawyer Alex Lopez, president of Pacific Concrete Corp.; Singapore School Manila Managing Director Analei Atienza; former Mayor of Cotabato City and now National Historical Commission of the Philippines Executive Director Ludovico Badoy; Jacky Chua, owner of Fescorp; Engr. Mario Aguilos, president of Aquagen Technologies Inc.; Manila Councilors Col. Ernesto Dionisio; Dr. Ruben Buenaventura; Roland Valeriano, Christian Paul Uy; Mr. and Mrs. Mon and Christina Yupanco; former Reps. of the Sixth District of Manila Benjamin Asilo and Amado Bagatsing; Flordeliza Villaseñor, former Romblon vice mayor and current director of the Manila Museum; Philippine Racing Commission Chairman Andrew Sanchez; Philippine Racing Commission Executive Director Dr. Andrew Buencamino; and Triple-A contractors Bingson Tecson and Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie and Mary Ann Alejandrino, among others.
His works have been showcased and displayed, and are owned by well-known institutions and establishments, such as: the main lobby and front desk of the City Garden Hotel Makati; the function room lobby of five-star hotel City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati; lobby extension of the City State Tower Hotel in Ermita, Manila; suite room of Miramar Hotel-Manila; and The Hair Lounge Salon in Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City.
On the road to a bigger and challenging journey, Montegrande said that he considers his family as his inspiration and No. 1 critics.
“My two daughters—Claire Denise, 7, and Cassandra Ysabelle, 8, are my best critics and I listen to them very attentively,” he said. “They will say, ‘Dad, it’s beautiful, but a little bit ugly…. I think you need to fix this part.’ I make sure I follow their advice,” Montegrande added. “My driving forces in pursuing this path are God, my family, my wife Jill, my two daughters and my countrymen.”
Before he got involved in visual arts, Montegrande, 38, has been active in various fields. He was the public relations and media consultant of several respected political figures, non-governmental organizations and corporate accounts, such as former three-termer Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, former three-termer Rep. Amado Bagatsing of the Fifth District of Manila, former three-termer Rep. Trisha Bonoan-David of the Fourth District of Manila, Top Councilor Arnold Atienza, former three-termer Rep. Benny Abante of the Sixth District of Manila, former Rep. Mitch Cajayon of the Second District of Caloocan, former Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Avelino Razon, the Luneta Seafarers Welfare Foundation, the Manila Yacht Club, Intramuros Administration, Philippine Racing Commission and the Arts Association of the Philippines, of which he has been recognized as an active member. He also worked with corporate entities, such as Unisilver Time and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC) under the supervision of former PSPC Vice President for External Affairs Roberto S. Kanapi.
Montegrande was also the recipient of the first Plaque of Recognition issued by Universidad de Manila, formerly known as City College of Manila, as the Most Outstanding Alumnus on April 14, 2014.
Montegrande said: “My dream is to mount a solo exhibit abroad, and then the proceeds will go here in the Philippines; and to have my own Montegrande Gallery. In God’s time.”
With all these wonderful blessings, the artist said that he wants give back by helping his colleagues in the art industry. “The problem is many artists don’t really have the resources to promote their paintings, or mount their own exhibits. It’s so expensive because aside from the art materials, you have to consider a lot of things like venue, food, manpower, collateral materials for marketing, etc. That’s why I really want to help some of my colleagues promote their paintings and, eventually, sell them to art enthusiasts.”