Alveo’s ‘INTER | SPACES’ exhibit examines the concept of living well
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As part of its 20th anniversary, Alveo Land continues its pursuit of reimagining and reexamining the future of spaces in the Philippines with “INTER | SPACES — Celebrating the Art of Living Well.”
With the concept of living well lending itself to a lot of different interpretations and creative representations, the heart of the exhibit lets people appreciate its idea through the juxtaposition of art and architecture.
A gathering of Filipino artists
“INTER | SPACES,” short for “interactive spaces,” is an exhibit gathering 10 various artists (who are also mostly architects) from all over the archipelago to showcase works that depict what it means to “live well.”
Coming together in the exhibit are five artists from Luzon: William Ti Jr., Aramis Corullo, Nikko Arbilo and Jerika See from Manila and Sarah Pallarca from Rizal. Representing Cebu are Jonas Bartin Pacifico, Aliver Escano and Fred Galan; while Gloryrose Dy-Metilla hails from Davao.
The centerpiece of INTER | SPACES is “Lotus,” a commissioned installation by Christina Gaston who comes from Bacolod. “As I reflected on Alveo’s various brand pillars, I was inspired by the lotus plant that for me embodies these qualities. In many cultures, it is a symbol of purity of heart and mind, and striving to rise above all. In some others, it represents spiritual enlightenment, purity, tranquility, rebirth, wisdom, and being grounded,” explained the award-winning artist.
The piece was a collaborative effort of five communities in Bacolod made up of fisherfolk, farmers, mothers, and Hacienda Crafts artisans who handcrafted the stool, arch and lotus leaves from arurog vines over a wire armature.
“Every leaf is different from the other since each is created by different people. Abaca twine binds the materials together to form the sculptures. For light, we created two sturdy bamboo slat lamps woven with rattan strips. Woven bamboo panels provide the grounding for the piece,” said Gaston of the installation that took over a month to finish.
“It invites the viewer to sit and rest a while to feel that he or she is in a safe space amid the canopy of lotus leaves that protect, nurture and provide shade and comfort,” she said, “The leaves need air, light, water, nourishment and so on, just like a person does to live well.”
The CEO and head designer of Hacienda Crafts added that when the light is right, lotus plants cast shadows onto the surrounding surfaces. She likened this to a person impacting his or her environment for the better; hence, the emphasis on community inclusion in the process of making her piece.
Young architects take centerstage
Among the artists present in the exhibit launch were promising architects Pallarca, Corullo and Arbilo. All three graduated from the College of Architecture of the University of Santo Tomas.
Pallarca, 26, who is also a mixed-media artist, shared that she tries to incorporate architecture into her works, as in her “Ascending” series, from which one of the works in the exhibit was taken.
Her work emphasizes the planning involved in creating art and architecture, which is pivotal in delivering a “live well” experience. “I used gypsum (in my artwork), which is a construction material. My subjects in the painting are more about scaffolding, verticality, elevation, and ascension. My work promotes not only aesthetics but also the architectural side (of a structure). It is more on the backbone of what a construction is.”
Meanwhile, Arbilo, 24, has his work “Reflections in a River” on display, which shows what a river once was. “But it is not the end of a story, there is more that can happen,” the digital artist explained.
Revitalization is one of the core themes of some of his works, which is an important aspect of living well.
Another featured artist, Corullo, who is representing an entire team in the exhibit, emphasized the relationship between valuing heritage and man’s quest to live well.
Designed in 2020, their work “Albergo Diffuso: This Piece is Broken” won in the Re-Terra 2021 National Design Competition. It reimagines the innovative Italian concept of hospitality called albergo diffuso or, literally, “dispersed hotel,” after which the piece is named.
He and his team took a portion of Iloilo’s famed Calle Real and transformed the six-building strip into a singular hotel as a social commentary on the controversial demolitions of heritage structures in the country.
The 23-year-old architect bemoaned how Filipinos tend to romanticize resiliency and undervalue creativity. “When we look at our buildings right now, these are all modern. We automatically assume that these are better. But when you look around, can you see that we are really resilient or creative? Why are we settling for these environments, like heavy traffic, if we are really creative?” He suggested looking into, preserving, and bringing back our heritage for us to live well.
Twenty years into the pursuit of living well
INTER | SPACES embodies the intersections between art, beauty, functionality and culture, showcasing different ways that one can appreciate what living well is as a concept. The 10 works on display reflect Alveo Land’s unique value proposition, staying true to its name which is from the Latin word salveo, meaning “to be well.”
Over the past 20 years, the company has made these pillars tangible by incorporating open spaces, sustainable and functional designs, and strategic locations in its various developments from Manila to Cagayan de Oro. It remains resolute in its commitment to continue doing so in the years and decades to come.
Alveo Land has come a long way from its early beginnings as Community Innovations (CII) in 2002 to being one of the fastest-growing real estate developers in the Philippines. With a continuously expanding portfolio, it now has over 64 projects in 14 prime locations in the country. To date, it has also won over 99 recognitions from local and international bodies, and has a growing client base from over 38 countries across the globe.
Backed by its renowned Ayala Land heritage, Alveo’s residential properties and communities offer dynamic and holistic experiences on top of distinct lifestyle options. Its developments offer clients a sense of security in knowing that their properties have enduring investment value potential.
Refusing to rest on its laurels, Alveo Land recognizes that there remain opportunities to critique and further expand the notion of what it means to live well. The company continues to dedicate itself to providing thoughtfully-designed and community-centric living spaces all over the Philippines. With this, Alveo Land is poised to further push the boundaries and challenge the concept of living well for 20 more years and beyond.
The flagship edition of “INTER | SPACES - Celebrating the Art of Living Well” is located at the second floor of One Bonifacio High Street Mall in partnership with BGC. It is set to run until Oct. 27.
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