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24 October 2024.To mark Museums & Galleries Month this October, the Philippine Embassy partnered with KUNST Gallery (Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talentong Pilipino) artists for a painting workshop held at the Embassy on 21 October 2024. The group features talented Filipino visual artists Ian Maigan, Windsor Magnaye, Nino Cris Odosis, and Joseph Albao, who are touring Europe for their exhibition titled Viaje 4 - Filipinism: What Makes Art Filipino.

Workshop participants proudly displayed their work following the guidance of Viaje 4 artists. 

 After the success of their traveling exhibition in Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium, they concluded their journey in Paris with the Business Art Fair and the workshop at the Philippine Embassy. This initiative is aimed to foster arts appreciation among participants while promoting Filipino creative identity during the Museums and Galleries Month
 

Attendees, led by H.E. Junever Mahilum-West, gained practical insights and renewed inspiration in pursuing visual arts.  

KUNST Gallery is a respected art institution recognized by the National Commission for Culture & the Arts and has played a vital role in advancing Filipino art both domestically and internationally. Its Director and Founder, Virgilio Cuizon, received the Presidential Banaag Award in 2022 for his unwavering dedication to preserving Filipino culture and art. Additionally, the gallery has a solid history of curating outstanding exhibitions that highlight the diversity and talent of Filipino artists.
 

Collaborating artists donated to the Embassy their demo paintings, which incorporate Filipino and Parisian narratives.  

This year's Museums & Galleries Month theme, “Honoring Traditions, Fostering Innovation,” reflects a harmonious blend of preserving heritage while embracing the future. The visiting artists embody this celebration, inviting the public to engage with how traditional knowledge, practices, and values are expressed through their art. By weaving the Filipino narrative and identity into their contemporary pieces, they reinforce the ongoing significance and vibrancy of local Philippine traditions on the global stage.

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22 October 2024.The Philippine Embassy in Paris celebrated the vibrant and growing participation of Filipino artists across various exhibitions during the Paris Art Week which coincided with the Museums & Galleries Month in October 2024. Led by Philippine Ambassador to France, H.E. Junever Mahilum-West, the Embassy visited various exhibitions on 17-20 October 2024 which highlighted Filipino creativity as they make their mark in one of the world’s foremost capitals for culture and the arts.

Asia Now

Asia Now Paris Asian Art Fair took place at Monnaie de Paris on October 17-20, celebrating its tenth edition. It featured a curated selection of international galleries showcasing Asian artists and included a public program with site-specific installations, performances, conversations, and workshops. This year, Asia Now hosted a significant presence from the Philippines showcasing galleries like The Drawing Room featuring visual artist Roberto Feleo and The Columns Gallery featuring performance artist Eisa Jocson.

Mr. Cesar Villalon Jr. of Drawing Room Gallery welcomed H.E. Junever Mahilum-West to the exhibition of visual artist Robert Feleo at Asia Now exhibition in Monnaie de Paris. 

The Columns Gallery Director Dong Jo Chang welcomed the Philippine Ambassador to Filipino performance artist Eissa Jocson’s work entitled Becoming White. 

Business Art Fair - Le salon à venir

On 18 October 2024, the Business Art Fair opened with a strong Filipino representation. It showcased numerous artists, aiming to find common ground among art, business, and humanitarian efforts and emphasized accessibility to contemporary art during economic uncertainty, helping discover diverse talents and encouraging businesses to sponsor and purchase artworks. The event served as a platform for exchanges among cultural figures, businesses, and the public, promoting art accessibility. During this event, Filipino women artists blended fashion and the arts as each participant designed her own which she painted in her own style. 

Visiting artists from KUNST (Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talentong) Pilipino toured Ambassador Mahilum-West (center) in their exhibition at Business Art Fair.  

Artists in combined fashion and visual arts as they featured handpainted Filipiniana ternos.  

Art Shopping - Salon international d'art contemporain at Carrousel du Louvre

The Embassy supported the Filipino artists’ exhibition at Carrousel du Louvre where Ambassador Mahilum-West herself exhibited her paintings along with other Filipino and international visual artists. This year’s exhibit hosted the largest Filipino representation of contemporary artists through the efforts of Paris-based art organizations Art and Cross-Cultural Exchange Society (ACCES) led by Ms. Margo Calderero-Le Lain and Kwadro Pintura led by Dhon Dela Paz. 

H.E. Junever Mahilum-West (left) exhibited her works at the Salon international d'art contemporain in Carrousel du Louvre.

Visitors at the exhibit viewed the vibrant and diverse displays, engaging with the artists and learning about the inspiration behind each piece. The event provided an opportunity to purchase original artwork and foster a deeper appreciation of the creative processes and cultural influences that shape contemporary art. It welcomed art enthusiasts, avid collectors, and aspiring artists as it brought together art lovers from all backgrounds to celebrate the universal language of art.

The Ambassador also graced the vernissage of visiting Filipino artists from France, Canada and all over the world. 

Artists’ Call

Participating artists across France and overseas who came to Paris for the Art Week exhibitions made a courtesy call on the Ambassador on 17 October 2024. A short program was held where they introduced themselves individually and gave background information on their artworks and inspiration. A number of visual artists donated copies of their work to the Embassy. 

Ambassador Mahilum-West received artists participating in various Paris Art Week engagements. 

The Philippine Embassy continues to support the growing number of Filipino artists in Paris who aspire to carve a name for themselves and showcase their identity in the city’s contemporary art scene. The Paris Art Week remains a vital platform for all artists who wish to make their mark globally; thus, the Embassy encourages and supports Philippine representation at these events.

This year’s Museum and Galleries Month in the Philippines honors the delicate balance between preserving the past and shaping the future with the theme, “Honoring Traditions, Fostering Innovation.” The Embassy encourages artists to honor our traditions by paying homage to the wisdom and experiences of our ancestors, as they pursue their passion in contemporary art.

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21 October 2024 - The Philippines participated in the 60th Salon International de L’alimentation (SIAL) 2024, a trade show bringing together food exhibitors and buyers and showcasing innovations in the food industry. SIAL provides an opportunity for Philippine companies to feature Philippine products and connect with buyers and distributors.


Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West attended the opening of the Philippine pavilion which was divided into Food Philippines and Coconut Philippines, and greeted the 26 companies participating which produced various products ranging from coconut, calamansi, banana chips, dried fruits, to cacao.  


The delegates discussed the importance of the European market and the challenges experienced in penetrating it. The Ambassador assured the delegates that the Philippine Embassy shall continue partnering with Philippine business in promoting Philippine products.


For Philippine companies interested in participating in SIAL 2026, please contact Philippine Trade and Investment Center - Paris through: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

(L-R) SIAL Paris Director Audrey Ashworth, H.E. Junever Mahilum-West, Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Gerardo Tamayo, spouse of Mr. Tamayo, Third Secretary Jackielou-Mary Gan Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West engages with the Philippine exhibitors for SIAL 2024.  A participating delegate presents its different coconut products from sauces to beverages. 

Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West discusses the products of a Philippine condiments manufacturer.