For the 35th edition of Conrad Manila’s well-lauded Of Art and Wine exhibition series at the Gallery C, the ship-shaped property turns to the azure blues of the ocean, its ever-undulating waves, and the creatures that coexist in its depths. This was all made possible by marine advocate and tech entrepreneur Lara Latosa.
The showcase, aptly entitled Bayside, evokes the power of its aquatic neighbor, the legendary and storied Manila Bay, as it urges viewers to take on a shared responsibility for our marine ecosystems and our future.
For Lara, dedicating a solo exhibit during the Month of the Ocean — annually commemorated on May in the Philippines (National Ocean Month is celebrated in the United States in June) — has been her driving force and commitment.
“This is my personal love letter to the ocean, making my work much more meaningful. This uniqueness sets me apart as an artist. I always believe that there are and there will be greater artists than me. However, my passion, heart, and style creates an LALatosa art,” she expounded.
Her fascination with the ocean and her advocacy were solidified in 2020, when she co-curated an abstract art show for Conrad Manila.
“Due to my works being ocean themed, I was published as an environmentalist. It sparked a fire in me to dedicate my work wholeheartedly. And so, I worked with various organizations to help bring out stories and programs benefiting the environment,” she said.
She continues this advocacy throughout each and every one of her mountings. “My main focus is on ocean preservation, so I bring out issues such as plastic pollution, coral bleaching, and the likes and how these have impacted the ocean. I’ve partnered with Oceana and UP Marine Science Institute during my first solo show. For this particular exhibition, we partnered with Divescape Hub to help rehabilitate some bleached corals during the fourth global coral bleaching event.”
Born and reared in the municipality-turned-city of San Pedro in Laguna, Lara finished her degree in Business Management with an honorable mention at the De La Salle University. “Most collectors prefer fine arts graduates. I admit I am a self-taught artist, but this does not affect quality of my work and my advocacy. Rather, it’s more interesting since this is not the profession I intended. Life has a funny way of bringing me into the art scene.”
When asked why she has this magnetizing attraction to the ocean, this is what she had to say: “I struggle with anxiety, and sometimes even depression. The ocean is where I first learned to relax my thoughts.”
“The ocean is unforgiving,” she continued. “It does not care who you are… Every move you make is potentially life or death. So the environment forced me to learn to relax and let go of any distractions. I now focus being in the present.”
“I got certified in freediving and I still pursue water sports. The ocean became my home and safe place. I wish to dedicate my art to helping it as well,” she declared.
While there may be concerns of conflicts of interest between environmental conservation and the technology industry, Lara believes this can be reconciled with the mission of each organization. “It depends on how people utilize technology to pursue worthy advocacies such as ocean preservation. There is no way we can stop them from exploiting the likes of technology for personal gains. But if one voice, such as mine, can inspire even the kids to be interested in nature, then that’s already a win!”
Bayside invites guests to take on the ocean in its entirety — not just as a body of water, but also as an interactive entity, complete with crashing waves, the play of light, and everything that lies underwater.
Curated by Nes Jardin, consultant of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation and the visionary behind the Of Art and Wine series, this public display continues the tradition of providing a prestigious platform for both emerging and established artists to unveil their craft.
Of Art and Wine: Bayside is on view from 13 May to 12 July. The paintings are available individually for purchase. For more information, contact Conrad Manila at +632 8833-9999, Lara Latosa at +63947-3370213, or email Ruston.Dongaol@ConradHotels.com.
¡Enhorabuena!, Lara Latosa!