“The Empty Chair Project,” the groundbreaking fundraising exhibition by the Visual Arts Helping Hands Foundation, is having a reprise at the Art Lounge Manila’s Podium gallery until July 30.
As far as show titles go, this one could be one of the biggest misnomers in recent art marketing history. Dubbed by people behind it as the “The Empty Chair Project,” there’s nothing empty nor hollow about this endeavor. On the contrary, it seeks to instill hope and promote altruism among its beneficiaries and participating artists, respectively.
“The Empty Chair Project,” the groundbreaking fundraising exhibition by the Visual Arts Helping Hands Foundation, where 58 of the most in-demand contemporary artists transformed the humble chair to be statements in support of mental health, is having a reprise at the Art Lounge Manila’s Podium gallery until July 30.
“The Empty Chair Project,” which had its initial run at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in 2019, is being restaged with a new roster of 58 artists. This new list has a good mix of artists from the young to the veteran, including such names as Aileen Lanuza, Anna de Leon, Antipas Biboy Delotavo, Anton del Castillo, Carlo Magno, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Ciron Señeres, Daniel dela Cruz, Dino Gabito, Dominic Rubio, Erwin Leaño, Ferdinand Montemayor, Fil Delacruz, Francis Nacion, Gene Paul Martin, Guerrero “RG” Habulan, Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, Janos Delacruz, Jason Montinola, Jayson Cortez, Jef Cablog, Jia Santos-Estrella, Jik Villanueva, Jomike Tejido, Jonathan Dangue, Jose Tence Ruiz, Juan Alcazarezm, Juanito Torres, Kat Cuenca, Kim Hamilton Sulit, Kristine Lim, Leeroy New, Leo Abaya, Louie Cordero, Luis Lorenzana, Luis Santos, Lynyrd Paras, Marc Aran Reyes, Melissa Yeung Yap, Migs Villanueva, Nona Garcia, Ombok Villamor, Omi Reyes, Pepe Mendoza, Pete Jimenez, Rando Onia, Raul Isidro, Raul Lebajo, Reginald Yuson, Renz Baluyot, Riel Hilario, Rodel Tapaya, Roel Obemio, Romeo Lee, Soler Santos, Stanley Ruiz, Veronica Peralejo and Yasmin Sison-Ching, among others.
“We restaged The Empty Chair Project Reprise in recognition of the need to reconnect after the lockdowns. We lost two artists during that time, Riel Hilario and Leo Abaya, and their works are in the exhibition. We would like to honor them by exhibiting their works, along with other artists, as the lockdowns and the pandemic, were tough on everyone’s mental as well as physical health. This exhibition is a reminder for our need to look out for each other. This was the message of The Empty Chair Project in 2019. And it rings truer now,” says Daniel dela Cruz, the director of the visual arts of Helping Hands Foundation, Inc.
Cxhibition curator Ricky Francisco shares that “during the lockdowns, artists and collectors were among the very first to rise up to help our frontliners through various online fundraisers. The usually solitary artists have come out of their shells to support other members of our community when the need arose. I think this is the essence of ‘The Empty Chair Project,’ and this is our essence as Filipinos. We are always there to offer a helping hand to those in need, as we know deeply that when we are in need, others will do the same.”
“Art Lounge Manila has been a part of various fundraisers to support our health workers during the lockdowns. And we are honored to be part of this exhibition which focuses primarily on artists and members of our own community. We are happy in the inclusion of our artists among ‘The Empty Chair Project,’ which is primarily a project of the Visual Arts Helping Hands Foundation, as the pandemic taught us that only by working together can we truly keep each other healthy,” shares gallery director Suzzaine Tiausas.
“The Empty Chair Project Reprise” runs until 30, at The Art Lounge Manila, at The Podium in Ortigas Center. For more information, visit the Art Lounge Manila website www.artloungemanila.com. You may also check their social media pages FB: @artloungemanila IG: @artloungemanila for more details.
