MANILA, Philippines—To mark the culmination of its annual art competition, premier Philippine-made single-island rum, Don Papa Rum returns to the Art Fair 2020, rallying local artists and their impressive portfolio of artwork at The Link Ayala Car Park in Makati City.
Now on its fifth year, the competition continues to celebrate the creative genius of the local art scene by showcasing their respective visual interpretations of Don Papa Rum’s brand story, with the theme “Flora and Fauna of Sugarlandia”
The island of Negros, more famously known as Sugarlandia, finds richness not just in its sprawling sugarcane fields, but also in the diversity of its foliage and wildlife—a perfect backdrop that fittingly inspired works of art.
Geovanni Abing, represented by Talimbaw Art Gallery, bagged the grand prize for this year’s competition. His artwork,“Timeless Landscape”, is a 3×5 collage and acrylic on canvas with an archival coating that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Sugarlandia.
“My artwork portrays Sugarlandia as a magical place pulsating with life and floating over a sea of clouds. A place that governs mankind,” Abing shares about the inspiration behind his work of art.
With this win, Abing is set to enjoy a month-long artistic sojourn in Barcelona—a city dotted with creative and cultural expressions at every turn, with airfare, accommodations, and allowance provided by the Bleeding Heart Rum Company, the makers of Don Papa Rum. His winning design will also be brought to life through special edition canisters which will be sold in limited quantities worldwide.
the grand winner of this year’s Art Competition
Don Papa also recognized two distinct artists in this year’s roster of artists: Joseph Ingking who won both People’s Choice & Artistic Merit Awards with his “Flora Fauna de Sugarlandia” theme, receiving PHP 10,000 and PHP 50,000 respectively, along with Daryl Feryl who bagged the first-ever Masskara Award for his work, “Eden” taking home the cash prize of PHP 25,000.
This year’s Art Competition was made possible by Don Papa’s partnership with The Metropolitan Museum of Manila, pulling in some of the most respected personalities in the art industry such as Tina Colayco, Maja Co, Lisa Periquet and Architect Manny Miñana.
Four designs have been featured in limited edition Don Papa Rum canisters since the competition’s launch in 2016. Last year’s winner, Samuel Penaso, captured the eyes and hearts of the judges and art enthusiasts with his creation called “Botany”—an intricate visual representation of how man connects with the nature surrounding him. Penaso then received a four-week all-expense paid “Artistic Sojourn Residence” in London, providing exposure to classical and contemporary art museums, access to relevant art events and gatherings, and a vast network of creative minds, among others.
The smashing success of Don Papa Rum’s Art Competition will continue to blaze the trail of other opportunities and partnerships beyond the art community as the brand is committed to providing platforms that will inspire homegrown talents to fulfill their potential.
“We’re very pleased with this year’s outcome and the number of talented individuals who participated has been overwhelming. This year’s grand winning piece serves as a testament that we have an abundance of untapped artistic talents that we can be proud of. And The Bleeding Heart Rum Company is thrilled to be at the center of the emerging local art scene in the Philippines” shares Erica Larkins, Don Papa Rum’s brand manager for the Asia Pacific.
To know more about Don Papa Rum and the Bleeding Heart Rum Company, read up on more details from their website, www.donpaparum.com, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.