“To mark its fifth year of purposeful art engagement and collaboration, SearchMindscape Foundation will mount a first-of-its-kind, multi-sensorial art event, aptly dubbed, IMMERSIVE ART. Anchored on the theme, Of Echoes and Currents, the creative festival will bring together live painting, music, performance art, underwater photography, large-scale digital art projections as well as interactive art installations for one day only–all under one expansive roof.”
Since it was launched in 2019, the SearchMindscape Foundation has always dedicated its efforts towards creating spaces and opportunities that inspire interaction, collaboration, and engagement within the Philippine art space. Led by Founder and Project Director Ayni Nuyda, the non-profit organization has continually endeavored to build an inclusive, nurturing creative culture that supports the career growth of emerging contemporary artists. “The foundation has made it its mission to constantly search for visual artists and partners who value storytelling as a catalyst for connection, community building, and engagement,” Ayni shares. “It envisions itself as a gateway into the contemporary art world for artists and art enthusiasts alike, as well as a pathfinder for emerging visual artists to turn to for mentorship and support.”
To mark its fifth year of purposeful art engagement and collaboration, Search Mindscape Foundation will mount a first-of-its-kind, multi-sensorial art event, aptly dubbed, IMMERSIVE ART. Anchored on the theme, Of Echoes and Currents, the creative festival will bring together live painting, music, performance art, underwater photography, large-scale digital art projections as well as interactive art installations for one day only–all under one expansive roof. On October 26, 2004, from 5:00PM onwards, the Green Sun Hotel along Chino Roces Avenue in Makati, will be transformed into an underwater universe brought to life by brush strokes, musical scores, movement, shadows, light, and palpable creative camaraderie.
“We wanted to create an immersive art experience that would serve as a playground for both artists, enthusiasts, and audiences. Since day one, our work at SearchMindscape is about inspiring artists to thrive and empowering audiences to build a relationship with the art and the artists. Through the IMMERSIVE ART experience, we hope to blur the boundaries between collector and artist, building bridges that will reshape the audiences’ experience of art.”
This audience journey at IMMERSIVE ART touches on the five senses. “This is how you create a memorable experience,” shares Ayni. The event was also designed with the intention of highlighting the ephemeral nature of art in all its forms and iteration. “It’s witnessing art at the moment, comparable to watching a live concert versus seeing it on television,” she describes.
Several creative limbs will make up the event, opening avenues for artists to explore, discover, and collaborate. “Inspired by my dad’s (pillar of Philippine modern art, Justin Nuyda) experience as an artist, IMMERSIVE ART was intended as a space for collaboration and dialogue.”
BATTLE OF THE BRUSH: A Closer Look Into The Creative Process Of Artists
A pioneering concept born out of a collaboration between Kevan Seng (Capulet Art) and renowned Canadian artist Raymond Chow, BATTLE OF THE BRUSH is a live painting competition that allows audiences to witness the creative process of artists. It has brought some of Vancouver's most exciting artists together through a shared passion for collaboration and artistic excellence. This year, the competition, which culminates with the audience voting for their favorite artworks, will shed new light on the creative process that’s distinct to the Philippine art scene. Co-founders Kevan Seng and Jwon Suh will be gracing the Philippines with their presence to show their support, marking a significant moment for the competition's international journey.
As one of the key features of IMMERSIVE ART by Search Mindscape Foundation, the first edition of BATTLE OF THE BRUSH in the Philippines will unveil best-in-class pairings of contemporary artists. Each pair will create a work of art based on the theme, Of Echoes and Currents. Artists participating in Battle of the Brush include:
Ayni recalls, “I came across BATTLE OF THE BRUSH in Vancouver in 2013. It was such a fun experience set in a winery. I wanted to bring that experience to the Philippines. Our roster of artists for the inaugural competition in the country will set the bar for future iterations.” In Vancouver, BATTLE OF THE BRUSH has extended its presence beyond the competition’s stage, adding a creative layer to events like weddings, corporate team-building exercises, and other milestone celebrations. The brand has also etched its place in Beijing’s dynamic art scene.
DIGITAL ART PROJECTIONS: Portals To The Underwater Universe
Digital art projections will envelope the entire events hall of Green Sun, transporting guests into realms that underscore the message behind Of Echoes and Currents. Ayni adds, “The digital art display pushes perceptual boundaries, blending technology with nature to create immersive experiences. These works prompt viewers to reconsider their relationship with our waters, using various techniques to depict elements in ways that are both conceptual and evocative.”
In bringing together a diverse, dynamic and well rounded roster of digital artists, SearchMindscape enlisted the expertise of Ren Aguila. Digital artists whose works will be showcased during IMMERSIVE ART by Search Mindscape Foundation include:
LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: Sounds of the Sea and Tidal Waves
Curated by Nick Lazaro, aural scoring and live music will accompany the various digital art projections surrounding the venue. Through the evening, local artists across musical genres will take center stage as a creative response to the various digital artworks on display. “Live music performances introduce an auditory dimension to the exhibit, drawing inspiration from the rhythmic patterns and sounds of the seas,” Ayni elaborates. “Compositions are inspired by the gentle lapping of the waves, the distant calls of marine creatures, and the powerful surge of tides, creating an acoustic landscape that deepens the emotional impact of the visual art.”
Musical artists featured during IMMERSIVE ART by Search Mindscape Foundation include:
SCULPTURE AND MOVEMENT: Intuitive Art In Motion
IMMERSIVE ART by Search Mindscape Foundation will also feature the intricate crochet work of contemporary artist, Aze Ong. Best known as Queen, her wearable sculptures were first worn by her around the time of quarantine in the midst of COVID-19. Every morning, Aze would perform atop the roof of her home wearing the Queen. The performance was recorded and published on social media. This convergence between sculpture and performance art inspires audiences to reconsider the permanent and immovable qualities of monuments typically done using metals or stone.
“There are four Queens in total, and for the first time in IMMERSIVE ART these moving sculptures will be stationary and shown together in one space,” details Ayni. Somatic therapist, movement artist and embodiment facilitator, Chloe Chotrani will animate the crochet sculptures during the one-night only creative festival. “Intuitive movements and meditative sufi dance will bring the sculpture to life.”
UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY: Echoes of Life Beneath The Waves
In her work with the Search Mindscape Foundation and as a curator, Ayni has always been predisposed to exploring the less traveled paths of fine art. She observes, “Photography has a limited platform in the gallery space. There are only a handful of galleries that place photography as fine art.”
During IMMERSIVE ART by SearchMindscape Foundation, an exhibit of photographs taken underwater and on the surface will be mounted on the lobby of the Green Sun Hotel, nearby the registration area. “Usually, we only see the work of underwater photographers in Nat Geo type of platforms,” she points out. In curating this collection of photographs, Ayni was keen on creating an audience journey that would prompt the senses and set the tone for IMMERSIVE ART. “It’s a prelude to all the experiences that await on the main floor,” the curator, project director and founder says.
Photographers on exhibit at IMMERSIVE ART by Search Mindscape Foundation are:
A resonant message that honors the beauty, boundless power and fragility of our oceans tie together the various limbs that make up IMMERSIVE ART by Search Mindscape Foundation. From the live painting to music, digital projections, and photography, Ayni emphasizes, “Everything is related to the ocean or water. In all aspects of the event we bring together the emerging and seasoned artists. It’s all about curation.”
Of Echoes and Currents, the event’s theme, brings to the surface the complex relationship of the marine world and humankind, as told through the lens of visual arts, performance arts, photography, digital art, and installation art. Ayni closes: “It weaves together stories that highlight both the strength and vulnerability of our oceans. It takes the audience on a journey through diverse artistic mediums, which transforms the space into a metaphor for fluidity and chaos, illustrating how water–and in this case, art–binds us together...In this exhibit, the echoes of the past and the currents of the present converge, fostering a dialogue that celebrates the ocean and encourages the viewers to reflect on society’s integral role in both the eco system and the arts. ”
IMMERSIVE ART: Of Echoes and Currents by SearchMindscape Foundation will happen on October 26, Saturday at the Green Sun Hotel, Chino Roces Ave., Makati. Gates open at 4PM. For more information and tickets, visit <https://immersiveart.helixpay.ph/>
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