The Manila Clock Tower Museum commenced its first National Arts Month Celebration with its first female solo exhibit by renowned and internationally celebrated missionary visual artist, and Philippine Navy Reservist, CMO2 Kristine Lim PN (Res).
The exhibit and art installation are part of the Kuwento Ng Alon international exhibit tour, an unprecedented project where the missionary visual artist interprets the songs of composer, songwriter and record producer Jonathan Manalo.
The international tour, staged in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Service Institute, will be visiting 10 counties outside the Philippines namely Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, UK, France, USA, Canada, and Dubai.
Opening and Artist Reception at the Manila Clock tower was held on February 1 and was graced by Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna.
Two paintings were also unveiled during the event by Lim. Both paintings are gifts from Councilor Numero Lim and Hon. Jasper Lim. The first is an opulent portrait of Mayor Lacuna, and the second one is a huge masterpiece entitled “Himig Sa Maynilad,” which will be an iconic piece inside the museum.
Kuwento Ng Alon at the Manila Clock Tower is presented by The Manila City Hall, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts of Manila, together with the Naval Reserve Command, Naval Reserve Forces NCR, Naval Reserve Center NCR, NRPAU Naval Reserve Public Affairs Unit, and Art Lounge Manila, and for the benefit of Sustainable PH, Operation Mobilization Philippines, Artists On A Mission, and ABS-CBN Foundation.
Meanwhile, a simultaneous art installation was also held for Kuwento Ng Alon together with the Department of Tourism, Intramuros Administration, together with the Naval Reserve Command, Naval Reserve Forces NCR, Naval Reserve Center NCR, NRPAU Naval Reserve Public Affairs Unit, and Art Lounge Manila.
The opening was held at Fort Santiago, Intramuros Manila and is entitled Hindi Mabigkas na mga Sanaysay. It’s a group art exhibit featuring Christian + Collective Visual Artists Members. It showcased the works of Christian Mirang, Diego, Inka Madera, Kristine Lim, Rodel Buban, Randie Tojos, Sherwin Tan, Shun Ablazo II, and Sim Tolentino.
On Kristine Lim’s curator’s note, she wrote: “There are stories and emotions no words can suffice expression, and they are too profound for anyone to verbally convey their most authentic and honest form. Hindi Mabigkas na mga Sanaysay is a collection of distinct and unique narratives that are bonded with common intents; to be bold, to be honest, to share a part of oneself, to be grateful, to be patriotic, to do something for a greater purpose that goes beyond the art and the artist.”
The celebrated visual artist added that the exhibit will “transports you through each one’s ongoing journey. I pray that the bits and pieces of turning points, highlights, realizations, climaxes, pitfalls, and triumphs, encapsulated in what you see, not only present you with how these have molded who the creators are and how they impacted those around them. May you also allow yourself to embrace the distinctness of everyone and find a part of who you are connected to who they once were and have become. These artworks maybe go beyond all known lexicons yet all are stories worth sharing and a testament to how the Divine continues to be the great Waymaker in their every breathing moment.”
Lim is one of the founders and officers of Christian + Collective.
A painting entitled Beyond Our Borders by Lim was also unveiled and formally turn over to the Foreign Service Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Philippines and will be displayed as a permanent part of the library of the Government Agency.
The exhibit runs until February 15 at the Department of Foreign Affairs.