We’ve seen the line between art and fashion blur through the years. Designers often take inspiration from the world’s greatest masterpieces, allowing their creations to become canvases for new art. Daily, creativity can be seen in the way people style their clothes. Every piece people choose and how they are layered is a tool for them to tell their story, making fashion, just like art, an ultimate medium for self-expression.
That coming together of fashion and art was recently seen in the works of Artègene. Led by mother-daughter duo artist Gene Artango-Villasper and fashion designer Paula Villasper, the lifestyle brand made its debut at the prestigious World Art Dubai 2024 last May.
Life in the arts
Creativity thrives in their relationship. Gene would create costumes for Paula, which in return, sparked the young creative’s passion for clothing. Their bonding moments also include working on a canvas. Together, they paint worlds beyond one’s imagination.
“Growing up, I painted beside her, and I continue to paint in my free time, giving me an intimate understanding and relationship with fine arts,” Paula tells Style Weekend. “This understanding enhances my work as a designer.”
In the local art scene, Gene is known as an active member of The Saturday Group of Artists. Through her cubism works, she was able to do exhibits abroad and even win some awards, the most recent one being the recipient of the 2024 International Prize Botticelli Award. Much like her mom, Paula was born to be creative. After designing costumes in high school, she pursued fashion design and marketing studios at SoFA Design Institute. In 2023, represented the country at the XIV Florence Biennale where she showcased her “Reborn” sculpture.
“Working with my mother is a joy and an enlightening experience. Though we share many similarities, our generational differences provide a unique perspective,” Paula tells Style Weekend. “We are a good demographic case study for Artègene, and our stories as Filipinas from the 90s and 2000s offer unlimited and colorful inspiration for future scarf collections.”
Weaving fashion and arts
World Art Dubai is one of the largest contemporary retail art fairs in the world. For its 10th edition, it showcased 10,000 artwork pieces by over 400 participants from Europe, America, Russia, the GCC, the Middle East, and Asia.
As one of the Philippines’ representatives, Gene brought her “Poetic Mestiza” artworks for everyone to see. The paintings depict themes of femininity, abundance, strength, and beauty seen through Gene’s artistic lens. But her works are not only present on canvases. What captured everyone’s attention were her vivid illustrations depicted on silk scarves.
Artègene’s inaugural line of silk scarves features Gene’s “Celebratory Supper” paintings, centering on the Filipino culture of communal dining. The scarves were so captivating that they took home the art fair’s Best Wearable Art award. Among those who expressed their admiration for the scarves were the founder and CEO of The Artpreneurs, Dame Marlene Murphy, and Hon. Marford Angeles, the Consul General of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
“Paula wanted the Philippines to have a champion in scarf design and she felt that debuting the brand on a global stage is the perfect moment to achieve this,” Gene says.
“They remarked that Philippine art is so new and unique, yet relatable and emotional,” Paula adds. “They also noted that my Mom’s cubist style is so distinct… Hearing this from foreign nationals was the most heartwarming experience… I hope to leverage this knowledge to champion Philippine scarf design and continue to elevate it to a global level!”
Artègene is set to make its local launch this year. To know more about the brand and its pieces, visit @artegenemanila on Instagram.
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