Self-taught painter opens 2nd exhibit in BGC

MANILA, Philippines — Poet and painter Anna Maniego recently opened her second solo exhibit in Manila House Private Club in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Dubbed as "Spectra of Solace," the exhibit features paintings with poems. 

In an interview with Philstar.com, Anna encouraged guests to bring headphones so they can truly enjoy the experience. 

“Last year kasi, I did poetry reading. But this year, it's another level of art because I asked my voice actor friends to read the poems. So now when you look at the paintings sa tabi tapos may QR code. When you click the QR code, you can listen to the poems,” Anna said. 

A self-taught painter, Anna said that she produced films back then but her experience led her to writing poems. 

“So I started with the poems, and it's because I produced the movie and the movie didn't go well. So, you know, that was my outlet to express myself,” she said. 

“So I started writing a very, very dark poem. From hell, as in very dark. Very graphic kasi 'yung pagkasulat ko, so I asked one one famous artist. So I talked to Michael Cacnio. Sabi ko, ‘Mike meron ka bang. Kilalang pwedeng mag-paint ng poem ko?' Binasa niya tapos sabi niya ang dark. 

“Sabi niya, ‘Let me introduce you to another artist who paints dark paintings.' And then eventually these two artists convinced me to try to paint my own sabi nila, ‘That is your story, you should paint it on your own'.”

She then tried painting her poems and people began buying it so she continued.  

“So I started with small papers and then I started making big ones. 2019 I stopped for a bit, 2021 I resumed, and then people started buying it. I think surprising. And my style of art is abstract. And I use a lot of paint, like when you look at it ang kapal. So nagtuloy-tuloy people are buying it,” she said. 

“Spectra of Solace” will be on view until January 30.

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