Sometimes, art finds you when you need a quiet place to think.
At Conrad Manila’s latest edition of its Of Art and Wine series, the silence speaks volumes. Titled The Light That Never Goes Out, the 36th installment features abstract works by Coeli Manese.
Running until Sept. 13 at Gallery C, the exhibit is a collaboration with Space Alt.
Manese’s exhibit is built on three themes: Eternal Light, Inner Illumination, and Resilient Hope. Each theme is layered with colors that “carry emotional weight.” There’s Payne’s grey for wisdom, turquoise for healing, and burnt sienna for humility. These aren’t just colors on canvas; they’re emotional checkpoints.
Coeli’s work invites viewers to be still. Her textured pieces don’t demand interpretation; they offer space. A moment. Maybe even grace.
During the opening, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation president Elizabeth Sy, EVP Peggy Angeles, and guest of honor Brigido Simon Jr. joined Conrad Manila’s director of operations Lucky Ou, and the artist herself in leading the ribbon-cutting. The event was simple but sincere, an extension of the quiet energy the artworks bring.
To deepen the experience, Conrad Manila also curated an exhibit-inspired afternoon tea at C Lounge. It’s not often you find smoked duck with truffle cream and coffee cream pyramids presented as a conversation with abstract art, but it works. Also available until Sept. 13, the spread is thoughtful, even architectural, echoing Manese’s layered visual language.
Manese, who began her painting journey in 2018, approaches her work as a form of worship. Despite her academic training, earning certificates from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and MoMA, she paints from a place of quiet faith.
“I hope to evoke peace,” she says of her work. “The Light That Never Goes Out invites the public to stop, breathe, and perhaps even reconnect with themselves.”
