Philippine art has a special place at the main exhibition venue of the 2017 Venice Art Biennale

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Great art must come with vision and passion; but for art to make an impact, it needs someone to push the boundaries for it to be known. The participation of the Philippines in the Venice Biennale (after 51 years of absence) could not have happened without one person’s belief that the country is at par, culturally and artistically, with the rest of the world.

Philippine Tatler unveils its latest issue featuring Senator Loren Legarda who made Philippine representation at the Venice Biennale possible. Also in this issue is an exclusive look at the Fernando Zóbel: Contrapuntos exhibition at the Biennale. Flip through the pages and find out more about the members of the International School Manila 2017 graduating class who are on their way now to fulfil their individual destinies. 

Photography: MJ Suayan | Art Direction: Anton San Diego | Styling: Monique Madsen | Clothes: Filip + Inna | Hair & Makeup: Rosita Colapo

Behind the scenes


IMG_6479.JPGDuring the shoot, the guests at the Biennale thought that Senator Legarda was part of the exhibition and kept taking photos of her


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The word "trouper" fits Senator Loren Legarda to a T. For this pictorial, she posed like a pro (well, to Philippine Tatler whose cover she has graced for five times now, she has always been one) in the middle of the Philippine Pavilion of the 2017 Venice Art Biennale, in full view of the exhibition visitors who ogled at her, marvelled at her clothes by Francis Libiran and Len Cabili of Filip + Inna, and even took photos of her like she was part of the Pavilion. Actually, she is. Were it not for this indefatigable senator, the Philippines would never have returned to this major international exhibition. With nary a concern for her political position or an iota of ego, Legarda gamely changed clothes behind one of the huge paintings of featured artist Manuel Ocampo like it was her dressing room. "Let us not tell Manny," she joked. For the cover photo, she stands before an Ocampo painting in Len Cabili. The trip to Venice was made more special because of another Philippine exhibition, Fernando Zóbel: Contrapuntos  in another venue. We were able to meet up with Fernando Zobel de Ayala who toured Legarda and Philippine Tatler's editor-in-chief, Anton San Diego, at the exhibition.

Special thanks to: Darwin Gutierrez, Sheree Mangunay-Infante, tourism director Shalimar Tamano, and Marion reyes | Location: Venice, Italy