Mapping Manila’s Chinese Temples at Yul Servo Nieto’s Directions VI

On January 15, 2025, the Art Gallery of The Manila Hotel hosted the opening reception of Directions VI, a solo exhibition of Filipino contemporary artist and City of Manila Vice Mayor, honorable Yul Servo Nieto. The event celebrated the fusion of artistry and heritage, as Nieto unveiled a collection of works inspired by Filipino-Chinese traditions and culture.

The event commenced with a warm opening remarks delivered by The Manila Hotel vice president for sales and marketing, Marvin Kim Tan, highlighting the institution’s commitment to supporting local art and culture. Following this, the artist delivered a speech sharing his inspiration behind the art pieces and announced that proceeds from the sales will go towards purchasing vital medical equipment—such as wheelchairs, nebulizers, hearing aids, blood pressure monitors, and walkers—to be donated to those in need. Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan also delivered a few words before joining Vice Mayor Nieto and Marvin Kim Tan for the ceremonial ribbon cutting, marking the exhibit’s official launch.

In Directions VI, Nieto reinvents his signature metal art pieces with elements of modern Cubism, Cartography or the art of map-making, and Assemblage art. Moving beyond his earlier focus on planes, lines, and negative space, he now incorporates everyday objects—bolts, nuts, screws, and hinges—as symbolic markers. These striking pieces pay tribute to Manila’s cultural richness and include depictions of Manila’s Chinese temples and historic districts like Binondo and San Nicolas.

The exhibition’s centerpiece, Temple Splendor, reimagines Chinese temples with golden nuts arranged on a grid-like map of Manila. Complementing the wall-mounted works are two free-standing sculptures—Nest of Healing and Icons of Heritage. Forged from bronze and gold-plated alloys, these pieces explore themes of healing and cultural preservation.

As the Chinese New Year draws near, Directions VI pays homage to the rich traditions of Manila’s Chinese temples. These vibrant hubs of cultural activity come alive with lion and dragon dances, incense lighting, and offerings of lucky foods—time-honored practices that reinforce familial and cultural unity.

Nieto’s latest creations highlight the significance of safeguarding these cherished traditions while exploring new dimensions of artistic expression.

Directions VI is now on display at The Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery. Admission is free. For interested buyers, call +632 85270011 or +632 53015500, or email r.lo@themanilahotel.com.

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My City, My SM, My Art exhibit kicks off National Arts Month

Culture and creativity are once again highlighted in the ongoing exhibit installed at the atrium of SM City Masinag. The exhibit started last Saturday and runs until February 9, 2022 featuring the works of Carlos "Totong" Francisco II, the grandson of the National Artist for Visual Arts, Carlos "Botong" Francisco.

The exhibit also presents the life and works of different artists from Rizal, showcasing talents in photography and painting such as Pinto Art Museum’s Erwin Leaño, Japs Antido, Jerson, Pogs and Jaypee Samson, NCCA Ani ng Dangal Awardee Danny Victoriano and select alumni of University of Rizal System Angono College of Fine Arts, who were featured in the My Art Stop at SM City Masinag in June 2017.

(L-R) SM Supermalls Regional Operations Manager Engr. Dennis Martel, Artist Erwin Leaño,
Artist Carlos 'Totong' Francisco II, SM Supermalls Senior Assistant Vice President Johanna Rupisan

 

Mallgoers can also catch a rare glimpse of the book at the My Art house, which is inspired Luzon’s Bahay na Bato. The pages of My City, My SM, My Art book contains crafts of masters, modernists, and millennials in a roadshow around the SM Supermalls as far north as the Cordilleras and as far south as General Santos.

 

My City, My SM, My Art is the latest edition in the My City, My SM series, which celebrates the beauty, culture, traditions and great people in cities around the Philippines where SM has malls. This comes after My City, My SM, which highlights tourism; My City, My SM, My Cuisine, which features heirloom recipes from prominent families around the country, and My City, My SM, My Crafts, a celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design.

Visit https://mystorymysm.com/mycitymysmmyart/ and https://www.youtube.com/MyCityMySMMyArt to learn more about the My City, My SM, My Art campaign.

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