EVEN as circumstances continue to be uncertain, Mandani Bay celebrates art and culture in time for this year’s Sinulog Festival with “Creativity and World-class Vision,” a painting exhibition of acclaimed abstract painter Dennis “Sio” Montera.
The showcase is a collaboration between the world-class township development and Montera, who was exclusively commissioned to do all the paintings for Mandani Bay Suites, the first two towers of Mandani Bay.
“We believe in Cebu’s creativity and we want to promote that through Sio Montera and his work,” said HTLand project director Gilbert Ang.
HTLand Inc., a joint venture company formed by Hongkong Land and Taft Properties, is the developer of Mandani Bay.
When Mandani Bay was still in its planning stages, culture and creativity were two of the pillars the project was built on. Thus, it has always been an important thrust of the developer to be a loyal proponent of the arts and local community of artists.
Visual artist Sio Montera is known for his non-figurative, symbolic art. This exhibition is the artist’s perspective in seeing with hope and positivity the other facet of one’s continued existence in today’s world. The commission work came to Sio at an opportune time—in the middle of the pandemic—as the job kept him busy and productive despite such a bleak climate.
According to Montera, the paintings had to go through a rigorous screening process from the Hong Kong office of HTLand prior to approval. “The works have been curated to fit the prestige of HTLand,” said Montera during the media briefing last Jan. 14. Aside from commissioned pieces, some of his personal works are on display at the exhibit as well.
Most of Sio’s paintings, the large ones specifically, will soon be on display at the lobbies and other communal areas of Towers 1 and 2 of Mandani Bay Suites. The smaller paintings, however, are available for purchase.
With a brighter and more positive outlook for 2021, Mandani Bay and HTLand hope to give more Cebuano artists a platform to showcase their work.
“Creativity and World-class Vision” with Dennis “Sio” Montera runs until Jan. 31 at the Mandani Bay Show Gallery.