Art in function  

It was Monday at the museum when Art House, in partnership with the country’s first-of-its-kind modern museum, Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG), launched the Zobel Centennial Collection.

To mark the occasion, an intimate guest list of heirs of Zóbel, art enthusiasts, fashion pioneers and journalists, spent the afternoon previewing gifting and travel items from the art-inspired range. They also immersed themselves in the AAG’s Synergy of Ventures: The Post War Art Scene. The exhibition, which runs parallel to the merchandise launch highlights the core collection of modern art works donated by Fernando Zóbel to the Ateneo de Manila University. “This core collection would later serve as the foundation of Ateneo Art Gallery’s identity and direction,” said the museum’s director and chief curator Boots Herrera. 

The Zóbel Centennial Collection  showcases rare drawings by the artist, philanthropist, and museum founder from his travels around the country’s northern region. Sketches of religious icons, local architecture and regional traditions were applied onto proudly Filipino-made items like catch trays, Japanese umbrellas, coasters and placemats. 

“This is the first salvo,” said Art House founder Carlo Pineda. “Very soon, we will be introducing more products like bucket hats, and undated notebooks. Working with a museum, we were very mindful about the caliber of design and workmanship that this collection needed. True to the Art House ethos, we are also focused on bringing the work of Filipino artists like Zóbel closer to audiences and communities.”