Film producer and art collector Anthony V. Gedang, better known as Tonet Gedang, was brimming with pride when he welcomed the guests to Curious, a three-day event featuring a series of exhibit tours, demos, and guest appearances by international experts.
The exhibit was on display from March 25 to 27 at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.
“The exhibited is about my 60 years of existence – the things I have experienced which I wanted to share with the public, and the next 60 years of how long I would still live. I love sharing stories. And this exhibit is all about the stories that I wanted to share,” Gedang, exhibit owner and president of Artiste Entertainment, Inc. said during the exhibit opening.
The event commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Dr. Gerardo Lozano Arredondo, the Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines. It was followed by discussions and MOA signings with various organizations including Artiste Entertainment Inc./ Museum (For Culture, Arts, and Travel), Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Inc. – Quezon City (For Business and Travel), and International Council of Museum – PH (For Museum, Culture, and Arts).
The second day of the event kicked off with Kids Club Tour. Here, youngsters enjoyed a fun selection of activities such as Sports Stations, Exhibit Tour, and Film Showing. Filipino artist Juan Llaga demonstrated his landscape penjing and bonsai skills and was followed by an orientation with Philippine Bonsai Society Inc.’s Yumie Gupit and another bonsai demo by Romy Dino.
The National Stone Society of the Philippines, simply known as NSSP, took the center stage on March 27. Gedang, as president of NSSP, gave his welcome remarks followed by greetings from international friends, general members’ meeting proper, a series of demos, lectures, and workshops, bonseki arrangement, and artificial Dazia making.
Gedang led a garden tour at the event’s conclusion.
Apart from the aforementioned activities, guests found themselves looking forward to the collaboration with the Mexican Embassy and Dr. Arredondo, the Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines. As a key part of this three-day event, the collab trained spotlight on the allure of Mexican Culture & Arts, Business Opportunities, and Travels with Dr. Arredondo.
“It’s important to recognize the Asian influence brought by the historic Manila Galleon Trade route that united Mexico and the Philippines for more than 250 years. That’s why I’d like to congratulate ourselves on this kind of activity.
When we speak about culture, we refer to what we are, to the traces of our memory as a society, or as what Mexicanwriter Carlos Fuentes would say, ‘Culture refers to our ways of being, and our ways of dreaming,’” Dr. Arredondo said during the event opening.
Forefronted by Artiste Entertainment Inc. along with art-centered movements like Bonsai PH and Suiseki PH, Artiste Musaeum is a physical and virtual space that showcases the collections of Gedang, spanning a wide spectrum of cultural materials from different parts of the globe. It is part of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), which is home to over 10,000 artworks including relics, tribal arts, books, and artifacts. The museum aims to inspire a greater sense of cultural appreciation by studying, interpreting, conserving, and exhibiting every piece in Mr. Gedang’s gallery.
For more information, you may also check out www.bonsai.ph, www.artise.com.ph, and www.suiseki.ph.