Prolific and multi-awarded missionary visual artist Kristine Lim admitted that she was not open to doing creative collaborations until he met composer, songwriter, and producer Jonathan Manalo.
The “Artist on a Mission” interprets the songs of the award-winning OPM icon, as a series of artwork and art installations for the multi-venue and multi-country art exhibition and art book in celebration of Manalo’s 20th year in the industry.
The artworks serve as a way to honor the different personalities and established singers who sang the songs of Manalo.
“More than 12 years ago, it was my dream to paint people who are part of our culture when it comes to music. I thought this dream would be forgotten until one night Jonathan told me that it’s been his dream for his music to be turned into something tangible, through visual art. It was the answer to my forgotten dream, it was my go signal,” said Lim during the official launch of Kwento ng Alon music video and book cover.
“To be honest, I’m not open to creative collaboration. Of course, there were birth pains but everything was beautifully orchestrated,” she went on.
Lim and Manalo launched their unprecedented and historic collaboration project on September 27 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This union of the dynamic duo who are both celebrated individuals from their respective industries gave honor to our country with their multi-venue and multi-country art exhibition and art book tour.
According to the duo, waves are the central imagery of the book which ties the whole project together, as it is a wonderful coincidence that emotions and sound, expressed harmoniously in Manalo’s songs, travels by the waves.
The event was led by Congressman Anthony Golez MD, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia – Frasco, Intramuros OIC, and Honorable Jaime Jasper Lao Lim. They were accompanied by Susanne Tiausas (founder and owner of Art Lounge Manila), Cindel Tiausas (Managing Director of Art Lounge Manila), Ricky Francisco (curator), and Ian Belleza.
Also during the grand launch, the duo announced that the exhibit and the art book will also be held at several venues in the Philippines, and then, in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, London, France, USA, Canada, and Dubai from October 2022 to October 2023.
“We will not only be showcasing the Filipino talent and creativity but will also be giving hope and inspiration to people across the globe during these trying times,” Lim shared.
Meanwhile, the Kuwento Ng Alon Art Book is comprised of the artworks of Lim as well as essays written by her and Manalo, Pastor Monique Lopez – Ong (Lead Pastor at Revelation City Church and host of ABS-CBN’s Real Talk), Cindel Tiausas (Artist, Curator, and Managing Director of Art Lounge Manila), Cid Reyes (Philippine’s Top Art Critic), and Ryan Cayabyab (National Artist for Music).
Both being faith centered with missionary backgrounds, Manalo and Lim made sure that this project will be a way to move as led by the Divine, and to extend help to others as part of the proceeds from the whole Kuwento Ng Alon project will be donated to four beneficiaries; ABS-CBN Foundation, Artists on a Mission Workshop, OM Philippines, Sustainable Ph.
Kuwento ng Alon (As Told By The Waves) is presented by Art Lounge Manila. For more information, visit www.kuwentongalon.com, or follow KuwentoNgAlon on Facebook and Instagram.