One early Saturday morning – I was standing on the
wide corridors of Finale Art Gallery at La Fuerza Compound in Pasong Tamo,
Makati City. Yet again, surrounded
with fine art and exceptional structures – I have deeply embraced the facets of
auction houses and start to appreciate every moment of it.
My body however is still in half slumber, as I have
to wake up early to make way for this year’s Ateneo Art Auction. This after all
is my first time on this 5-year running AAA (Ateneo Alumni Association) organized
charity event and I wouldn’t want to miss it.
For a Cause
It’s always rewarding to be a part of a fund-raising
event such as this. The proceeds of the art auction will benefit
the scholars of Ateneo School of Humanities.
Not only that, one of the main goals of AAA is to
make Filipinos aware of their own talents as included in their line up of lots
are winners of their very own Ateneo Art Competition.
Ateneo Art
Auction Attendance
However, it came quite a bit surprise to see that
there were no much people around, a lot of vacant seats and Dr. Leovina Garcia
(Chairman,AAA) had to request for an “academic quarter” (quarter-hour
(15 minute) discrepancy between the defined start time) to pave way probably for more bidders to come.
This year’s Ateneo Art Auction suffered a bit in
terms of attendance. This
announcement might explain it all.
The Auction
Results
Several lots were remained unsold and only some
notable pieces were fought on. The
crowd of this year’s Ateneo Art Auction was undoubtedly calm and a bit relenting.
You’d be lucky to bid your choice of piece and win it
right away as some lots were awarded from just a single bid.
I attempted only once and I was hoping to come home
with a beautiful piece from Rodel Tapaya, thought I’d win it right away but the
bidders relentlessly raised paddles on this piece.
I’d say it is the only piece that was fought on so
hardly yet it is the piece I was hoping to own. It started at 70thousand and ended at a hammer price of
220thousand. I didn’t win the
piece. Not my day I guess.
My Observation:
Auction Highlights -- Contemporary art pieces
garnered more interests from the bidders than the old works of the
masters. Pieces of Angkiukok,
Olmeido, Olazo, Bencab, Lianben and Saguil didn’t cope keenly compared to the
works of Borlongan, Tapaya, Galicano and some new names in the art scene.
Art Event – The preparations were really thought into
details. The committee was
successful to bring in a lot of big sponsors. ABS-CBN was there to shoot the event too. Crustasia catered
the event. The crowd was treated
in to good food and enthralling music all throughout the occasion. Usherettes were recognizable in their
sharp formal attires. Parking was not a problem as they have designated the
outside compounds of La Fuerza open to the crowd of the auction.
Overall – I am sure the turnout could have been
dramatically different if not for the unfortunate same schedule of the UAAP
Championship (nobody could have guessed it would fall on the same day). Moving it to another day/week could
have been more helpful than moving it to an earlier time. The event preparations were
superb. I am looking forward for
2013’s Ateneo Art Auction.
