SENTRO ARTISTA hosted the Up Close & Natural photography exhibit to promote mobile phone photography to captivate the beauty of nature at its finest over the weekend.
Around 50 visual artists from all over the Greater Manila — 20 to 30 mobile photographers and junior photographers — flocked to the Arton Strip by the Rockwell in Quezon City to showcase their works.
“We get to discover some new things and new aspects that are visible to the lens and even to the simplest mobile camera,” Marjorie Ruiz, the organizer of Up Close and Natural photo exhibit, said.
Ruiz explained the objective of promoting mobile photography is to connect individuals who do appreciate visual arts, particularly the environment and commune them with nature’s best visuals.
“Through mobile phone photography, we see the different realms. In sharing our work with one another, we form meaningful relationships regardless of status, beliefs, and location,” she added.
The event exhibit was graced by first district Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde and veteran journalist Jay Ruiz to give a home to the country’s professional and non-professional artists.
Sentro Artista is formed for the benefit of the country’s various painters, photographers, sculptures, musicians, actors, and actresses, among others, to promote their work.
A room inside the Arton Strip, Ruiz explained, will highlight these arts that need to propagate and proliferate to reach the global stage just like what international artists do.
Ruiz and Atayde explained that arts played a very crucial role to banish depression at the time of the pandemic, at a time of uncertainty, and sorrow, where anxiety affected everything for more than a year.
“Arts heal all wounds,” they said.
Painter Rico Aunzo of Antipolo, 33, presented his masterpiece “Pedrong Masipag.”
Also present were Mylene Quito and Jonathan Hilario as guest visual artists.
Quito specializes in contemporary art while Hilario is best known for his nature and rural landscapes.
Sentro Artista aims to promote art and culture by exhibiting monthly different artists of different genres at the Arton Strip by Rockwell.