“Divergent” @Kambal Gallery

Kambal Gallery in its 3^rd edition will be coming back to the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre (HKVAC), an elegant restructured early 20^th century building called Cassels Block, a former barracks for married British officers of Victoria Barracks located in the heart of Hong Kong’s Central district for an exhibit called DIVERGENT with a VIP Preview on 7 November, 2019 Thursday, 6:00pm – 8:30pm and Free Admission Open to the Public Viewing  on 8 -10 November, 2019 (Friday – Sunday) from 10:00am – 7:00pm and 11 November, 2019 (Monday) from 10:00am – 2:00pm. This event will feature contemporary artworks of already very well established  Filipino artists and  foreign artists who are based in Hong Kong. As part of Kambal Gallery’s advocacy, part of the proceeds will be donated to The Best Gift Foundation, a charity that builds schools in some of the poorest and remotest part of the Philippines. For more details you can visit their website www.thebestgiftfoundation.org

This exhibit’s portfolio carries the works of some of the most recognizable and respected names in the Philippine art scene to name a few: Lydia Velasco whose works have already been auctioned in international auction houses such as Sotheby’s, Borobudur, Larasati and Masterpiece; master of print making technique Pandy Aviado who is also adepth at using various medium; Alfred Galvez, a UP Fine Arts graduate who studied under Marco Cavallini in 2007, at the Bottega Arte in Florence, Italy that was esteemed for trompe l’oeil techniques who now runs an atelier and art school in Kamuning, Quezon City  imparting knowledge of what he has learned to his students. HKVAC is welcoming back steampunk sculptor Ram Mallari Jr. who transforms discarded metals into beautiful pieces of arts; Eman Sia who takes inspiration from stories told to him by his mother who taught him to appreciate nature when he was a child and Spanish Filipino artist Federico Elizalde who uses a technique that he calls “Aluminuchrome”, in which gilded aluminum leaf is covered in thin translucent layers of color paint to react to light.  

This show is exhibiting for the first time the works of Wencyl Mallari. Mallari who comes from a family of artist started painting at the age of 9. At the age of 15, she already participated in a group show and was also interviewed by a local TV station who was impressed by her talent.  In 2011, she and her father did a project in Ukraine making interiors and murals for Funtura Donetsk. In 2015, She won the Grand Prize for Art Petron National Painting Competition. She also won other awards in several art competitions. 

Other artists exhibiting for the first time in Hong Kong are Christian Lee Regis who paints abstract nostalgic scenes of Manila, Rita Bustamante known for using pointillism style with fastidious details, the formidable Simsim brothers Joey and Dexter; sons of Master artists renowned in the art industry but etching their own niche in the arts business are Monnar Baldemor and Janos Delacruz now getting recognized for their own unique style; Jeanroll Ejar using veneered wood shaving using different kinds of wood in their natural color. Joining the impressive line-up is Danny Rayos del Sol, a visual artist, and curator for Manilart and the Annual Sculpture Review ASR. Also being presented for the first time at HKVAC is the work of multi-awarded jewelry designer Mila Imson who is venturing into doing sculpture as well.    

Kambal Gallery is also pleased to see the participation of Hong Kong based British artist Martin Lever whose works have been exhibited in the UK, Hong Kong, and the Middle East. Lever’s works adorn the walls of private collectors, as well as corporate lobbies including Estee Lauder, the McKinsey Corporation, Patton Boggs Law and the Wharf Group. Another British artist grabbing the limelight at this exhibit is watercolorist Sarah Bent. As well as exhibiting in Hong Kong, she has already exhibited in Italy, Australia, Mexico, and the UK. Featured as well in this exhibit is the impressive “Kisaeng” series in oil by South Korean artist Eunhe Park, figurative paintings by Australian artist Helen Boyd who for many years managed her own gallery and art hub doing art classes, workshops, art jamming, artist talk, art demo and exhibitions; and Italian artist Francesco Lietti who studied architecture in Milan and furthered his studies in Paris at the École des Beaux Arts, La Seine, and also at the Clerkenwell College of Printing in London. His works are featured in private collections worldwide.

Although relatively new, Kambal Gallery has already held successful exhibits at the Affordable Art Fair held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Asia Contemporary Art Show held at Conrad Hotel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre and Manila Art in 2018. Kambal Gallery has just recently participated at an international exhibit at Palazzo Merati in Venice, Italy last September and MANILA FAME in the Philippines in October this year.

This event promises an extravaganza of colors and cultural experience through the various style, medium, and techniques that can be enjoyed by the audience during the entire duration of this exhibit.