Art Apart Fair focus: Philippines

AS a gallery in southern Philippines, Qube will "break" the conventional notion that Manila is the only art market for artists residing in the southern regions.

"Our aim is to present our artists to the Asian region, and we're bringing works of seven artists from Cebu, each representing different aspects of 'new' Cebu art," says Maris Holopainen.

The gallery's criteria for the collection came from its theme, Overlap: Diversity in art and artistry as defining contemporary art of Cebu. Says Ms Holopainen, "We brought artists with unique but varied qualities in their works as a reflection of the current art market trend in Cebu."

For example, Dennis "Sio" Montera represents contemporary abstraction rooted in deep Filipino sensitivity; Marvin Natural represents the socio-political commentary in a representational painting; and Thom Jopson expresses the daily trivia of his artist life through a mask of fantastical characters …