The designer’s creativity holds full sway in pieces that feature natural elements, unusual forms, and the use of luxe materials such as rose-cut diamonds and Baroque pearls. But De Vera’s display goes beyond its owner’s creations, delving into beautifully curated collections made up of virtually everything from ivory-headed religious figures from the Spanish Colonial Era to rare paintings from famous artists in the earliest years of their careers.

“The objects I feature must have absolutely nothing wrong with them,” de Vera says of the myriad items that have appeared in his shop since it opened in 1991. “Also: each object—no matter how humble —has a story to tell.” Depending on how it is juxtaposed with other items, each piece also evokes a reaction from those who see it. 

This fascinating interplay between objects is one of the highlights of Curated by Federico de Vera, an unusual exhibition mounted at the Ayala Museum. Touted as a display of the Philippines’ most beautiful objects—an astounding array of treasures loaned from various public and private collections from around the country—it is bound to captivate art advocates, design aficionados, as well as avid students of Philippine art history.

It may also be considered one of the most ambitious exhibitions ever mounted at the Ayala Museum. With a staggering catalogue of over 300 objects spread throughout three levels of the structure, the exhibition is seen as a visual timeline encompassing the length and breadth of the nation’s history, as well as a statement or a discussion on how our culture has evolved over time.

According to de Vera, “Our culture is the product of diversity and tenacity. Indigenous peoples, a long succession of colonisers, devotion to Christian symbolism, [the contrast between] wealth and poverty, endless migration, paradisiacal but calamitous geography, and the acceptance of Western culture are only some of the factors that in uence our attitudes.”

It is this unusual blend of cultures and ideologies that comes into play when it comes to the placement of the different pieces and artefacts. There was a conscious effort on the part of the curator to show together objects from different periods and styles in order to show stark contrasts between regions and even generations. The overall effect is thought- provoking and even shocking at certain point— yet, it presents a clear vision as to where Filipino culture came from, how far it has come, and how much farther it has to go.

“Our culture is dense yet spontaneous,” de Vera explains. “This somehow explains why Philippine contemporary art is liberal, intimate, and compelling all at once.” 

The Curated by Federico de Vera exhibition will be on view at the Ayala Museum until 28 January 2018.