Amidst the hustle and bustle of Makati, The Writers Bar at Raffles Hotel was a haven of cheer and good fun as Fundacion Sansó presented their latest collaboration, "Sansó at the Writers Bar."
Raffles Makati's Michael Sagaran, Aubrey Ada, Eugene Tamesis, and Paula Celis; Fundacion Sanso's Ricky Francisco and Tenie Santos; with artist Art Lozano
The event is a two-month-long, afternoon tea program at the aforementioned space, and will run from July 6 to Sept. 6, 2023.
Manila Bulletin Lifestyle was invited to the posh hotel to experience the innovative and creative high tea offerings of the famed city bar, which is now infused with the unmistakable DNA and artistry of Juvenal Sansó.
Artist Art Lozano instructs cultural attache of the French Embassy to the Philippines Martin Macalintal in creating a visual homage to Sansó's work
Indeed, the afternoon tea program at The Writers Bar became a unique and art-infused experience that celebrates the work of Sansó.
Imprint managing director Tedrick Yau, Mantle Magazine associate editor Angelo Dionora, the author, and BusinessMirror assistant lifestyle editor JT Nisay at the unveiling ceremony of "Sansó at the Writers Bar."
The program features a pop-up exhibition of an actual Moderno work, as well as giclees, art plates, posters, and books about the artist. Guests can enjoy tea and a special menu inspired by Sanso's art, while dining by the light of the artist's delightful Breton House Series of lamps.
The menu includes Spanish favorites like gazpacho and churro, staying true to Sanso's heritage. The sweet desserts are also decorated with Sanso's colorful artworks.
In addition to the culinary and visual delights, the event was also an opportunity to preview the upcoming exhibition "The Last and the Best of Sansó's Modernos," a collection of the artist's Moderno Series. The exhibition will be held at MoCAF, the Modern and Contemporary Art Festival, from July 28 to 30, 2023 at the Grand Ballroom of the Fairmont Makati, which is located next to Raffles Hotel.
The Moderno painting is one of the highlights of this pop-up. As recounted by Fundacion Sanso's Ricky Francisco, in the late 1990s, Sansó set up a studio in Iran and was inspired by the country's breathtaking mountain ranges and sun-kissed valleys.
This inspired him to create the Moderno Series, which is characterized by sharp and incredibly detailed pictorial realism. This is in contrast to his earlier works, which were more floral and imagined.
Sansó was an avid photographer and took many photos of the places he traveled to in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. These photographs eventually became sources of inspiration for his Moderno Series.
The Moderno works were exhibited in the mid-2000s to the early 2010s, when Sansó was in his early 80s. This series represents Sansó's third wind of creativity, as the intricate details and near-photographic clarity of lines in the works seem to contradict his advanced age.
The Modernos are a testament to Sansó's skill as an artist and symbolize the culmination of a life in art that is rich and well-lived.
Experience “Sansó at The Writers Bar” from July 6 to September 6, 2023. For more information, go to: https://www.raffles.com/makati/. For more information about Fundacion Sansó, please email: [email protected].