ART FOR ALL

"...you don't need to be a millionaire with a doctorate in Fine Art to buy (contemporary art)." -- AAF

Amen.

We're so glad to be here in time for the Affordable Art Fair (18-20 November 2011), held at the F1 Pit Building, right beside the Singapore Flyer. 

The SGD10/head entrance fee was worth it. For one, there's a free shuttle bus from the City Hall MRT to the fair and back - so convenient, especially since it started raining real hard after lunch. But mostly, the entrance fee was sulit because the fair was such a visual feast! On our minds, ang dami na naming binili. Haha! Art pieces sold for SGD1,000-10,000. But since we're still on career breaks, bawal pa mag-shopping. Besides, we don't have our own SG place yet so saan naman namin ilalagay ang art pieces? Lol. So we happily window shopped, taking in the beauty and creativity surrounding us. 

There were free talks during the 3-day fair. Hubby and I got to attend the photography session with Deanna Ng, an independent documentary photographer and educator. This was a first for us -- together for a photography talk! (You see, photography is Hubby's thing, not really mine.) My favorite bit was when Deanna started discussing the photographs on exhibit -- the concepts, process and shooting styles behind them. Sa technical, tune-out na ako. Hehe.

The Photography Talk with Deanna Ng

AAF is voted as one of the UK's
CoolBrands for 2010/2011
-- AAF website

In our dream world, the next five pieces were all "sold" to Hubby.

For the first two pieces pa lang, we already need SGD12,800 (almost half-a-million pesos!). Donations, anyone? Lol.

Buti na lang libre mangarap!

Huang Gang's "Dance Together"

Wang Guanyi's The Materialist Revolution I

More of the pieces for sale...

On our minds, amin na rin ito. Lol.

Above:
I liked the "One Roof"
environmental portraiture series.
It's inspiring me to do a personal project
featuring the people in my life.
Hmmm.

We thought these Chinese paintings were lovely, perfect for our very Oriental-themed first home in Manila...

The two Chinese paintings above
are by JD Chou.

Perfect for my Coca-Cola addict Hubby?

Sole mate ko? Hehe.
"Splendid Outing I"
by Hwang Sae Jin

The series below, I found disturbing...

We hope afford na talaga namin ang art pieces sa next fair. Hehe.

BDAY PICTORIAL

Hubby asked me what I wanted for my birthday. Right away I said, "a photo shoot."

We're really a team, you see. He's into photography. And I'm practicing my styling, hair and makeup skills. A photo shoot would definitely be a perfect birth-date! So we turned our tiny condo into a photo studio. The first hour was devoted to hair and makeup; and the background, lights and camera set-up. The second hour was all test shots, experiments and adjustments. By the third hour we've found the "formula" and started having so much fun.

LABOR of LOVE

Through Hubby's Eyes: Me at 35

Dear J, thank you for always making me feel like I'm the most beautiful woman in the world (even though we both know I'm not!). Hahaha! Thank you for loving me, seeing me the way you do.

OPENING NIGHT

Barely six months into "serious" photography, hubby's first (group) photo exhibit is up! Claps and snaps! *very proud wife* Could this be proof that anyone may excel in anything he puts his mind and heart into?

Sharing the highlights from opening night...

J: Tilak Hettige's Dawn to Dusk 2 photo exhibit opened Monday, with National artist Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Premiere wedding photographer Patrick Uy, along with other members of the prestigious Camera Club of the Philippines, also graced the occasion. But putting one over everyone else is surprise guest, Hayden Kho! Who would've known he's into photography. Isn't he into videography? :)

Above, clockwise:

My writer-photographer-creative director-

martial artist-mountaineer-fencer-medical miracle

Hubby with one of his photos;

Us;

with photography enthusiast Hayden Kho;

ribbon cutting ceremony with hubby's mentor Tilak Hettige,

National Artist BenCab and premiere photographer Patrick Uy.

A: All the photos on display were taken at the BenCab Museum, Baguio City (where I ate and read while their group was at work). The exhibit will run until July 10 (with possibility of being extended according to Tilak) at the Camera Club of the Philippines, Makati City. It's open Monday to Sunday, 10am-7pm. Thanks to every one who've taken the time to drop by (special mention to our friend E who came on opening night). I'll try to post hubby's photos here after the exhibit.

Love on Display

Picture Perfect

Mr. & Mrs. M

PROUD WIFE MOMENT

You're all invited to my hubby J's first (group) photo exhibit, "Tilak Hettige's Dawn to Dusk 2," opening on Monday, June 27, at the Camera Club of the Philippines, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

National Artist Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera will open the exhibit. Taray! *proud wife moment*

TRULY A TEAM

Hubby and I, we're my favorite team. Our collaborations at work, at home, and at play are always most fun and most fulfilling.

Here's one of our more recent team projects.

-----

"Taylor Fit"

Written as a FB note by my Hubby

Posted last June 12, 2011

It was a fine Sunday afternoon, with the sunlight dappling through the trees, falling gently on the green grass, seemingly playing with the shadows. We were beneath a cool canopy, breaking the twigs beneath our feet, throwing fallen flowers into the air. It was one of those memorable days when you must have a camera in hand to capture those fleeting moments. And there I was, happily shooting with my camera, taking pictures of Taylor Swift.

Well, not exactly. I was shooting my niece, E. In a Taylor Swift-inspired photoshoot. In a photostory conjured by my wife, A. I wanted to practice my photography. She wanted to practice her styling. And our niece wanted to model. E was channeling Taylor Swift. A was channeling Rachel Zoe. I was channeling Parc Cruz. E posed, A styled, I clicked.

Yes, it was one of those days, when we do something we love with people we love, on a fine Sunday afternoon.

Model: E

Stylist, HMUA, Voice Activated Light Stand, My Wonder Woman Wife: A (Me: *kilig*)

Photographer: J

Special thanks to our dear cousin, P, for making the shoot possible.

For more photos, visit my other blog, mylittleblackbookofstyle.blogspot.com