Short for "The Alternative Nest for the Next Rising and Emerging Artists," The Annext is an experimental art initiative that aims to conceptualize and curate innovative and ground-breaking contemporary art exhibitions in collaboration with galleries, design brands, and cultural institutions. Its mission is to elevate art appreciation and understanding.
This 2023, the hope was to organize two simultaneous contemporary art exhibitions. This time the Department of Tourism (DOT) became a national partner to make sure that the concept was properly guided in terms of crafting significant contributions to art tourism from venue selection and preparation to space and sensory curation, and market promotions and viewership. Partner galleries included Art Underground and Ysobel Art Gallery.
Guided by DOT's vision, a monumental art exhibition was done at the National Museum of History to introduce the space as a contemporary art platform. The exhibition featured two of the most celebrated and sought-after contemporary artists of their generation through two simultaneous one-man exhibitions.
Inspired by the architectural double helix concept of the National Museum of Natural History, the simultaneous and blended exhibitions of contemporary artists Marc Aran Reyes entitled "(an)other" and Sid Natividad's "Sentiment Debris" hope to define and establish, despite their own artistic originality and concept, their shared creative DNA as Filipino artists.
Guided by the museum's main purpose as a place of historical conservation and a space to think and wonder, both exhibitions are anchored on one conceptual theme—the passage of time in defining a moment, a history, a story. For this rare and monumental pair exhibition, both artists, through their art pieces, explored and reflected on the following questions: How do you see your past? What are the things that you once held most valuable but can no longer hold? What are things you can only wish for to be part of your present? Are there things you wish to hold on to that continually and forever define you, your present, and your future? How do you make your past part of your present and future?
In their oeuvres, the exploration of time and personal histories is represented and captured in the vastness of space by Marc Aran Reyes or body of water Sid Natividad. The exhibit was launched last Dec. 5, 2023 and ran until Dec. 10, 2023. Present at the launch were DOT Secretary Christina Frasco, DOT USEC Gail Pamintuan, Art Underground's Nicholas Teotico, Ysobel Art Gallery's Patrice Tiongco, The Annext's Prim Paypon, as well as the two featured artists Marc Aran Reyes and Sid Natividad.