SEAMEO INNOTECH launches White Room Gallery
On 4 July 2023, SEAMEO INNOTECH unveiled its own art space the “White Room Gallery” with an inaugural exhibit entitled “UGMA: Ugnayan ng Sining at Teknolohiya” featuring works of an artist collective called the INNOTECH 13 Artists.
The White Room Gallery, as INNOTECH Centre Director and former Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized, aims to bring to the fore the rich and productive relationship between Art and Technology. The accord between ‘arete’ and ‘techne’ goes back a long way to Greece-Roman Classicism where the overriding concern of the relationship is to bring out the best for humankind.
In her message, Director Briones said, “One of the very important thrusts of SEAMEO INNOTECH is that technology, science, and the humanities cannot be separated. Even as there are so many wondrous things happening and evolving in technology, we must not forget that we are Filipinos, we must not forget our culture, we must not forget that we are humans.”
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmote giving her message as the guest of honor of the White Room Gallery’s inauguration
As the guest of honor, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte praised the initiative of INNOTECH to open its own art gallery. “I was very excited to come here today because for a very long time, I have not been invited to any openings of cultural and artistic exhibitions. Pero ngayon natutuwa ako na dumarami na ang exhibitions na nagbubukas sa ating lungsod [But now, I am happy to see more exhibitions opening in our city]. We support and welcome the White Room Gallery here in Quezon City,” Belmonte said.
Among the other guests who graced the launch were Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre, Department of Education Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban, Former Philippine Ambassador to Germany Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, and advertising executive Vincent Pozon.
The INNOTECH 13 is composed of the following emerging artists: Ramon Arsenio Acevedo, Hoche Magtolis Briones, Ryan Alison Cua, Denes Dasco, Joy Dasco, Jes Evangelista, Karen Fabie-Concepcion, Reymar Gacutan, Carmela Geisart, Jay Lozada, Nesty Angeles Ortiz, Byron Valenzuela, and Jefferson Villacruz. It is headed by its Artistic Curator, Professor Ruben Defeo of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts. Most of the participating artists are members of ArtVocacy, an organization committed to uplift the quality of life of the underprivileged, especially the differently-abled and underserved indigenous children across the Philippines.
The White Room Gallery is open to public viewing every Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is located at the International House of SEAMEO INNOTECH in Diliman, Quezon City. The current exhibit “UGMA” will be on display until September 4, 2023.
