On January 15, 2025, the Art Gallery of The
Manila Hotel hosted the opening reception of Directions VI, a solo exhibition
of Filipino contemporary artist and City of Manila Vice Mayor, honorable Yul
Servo Nieto. The event celebrated the fusion of artistry and heritage, as Nieto
unveiled a collection of works inspired by Filipino-Chinese traditions and
culture.
The event commenced with a warm opening
remarks delivered by The Manila Hotel vice president for sales and marketing, Marvin
Kim Tan, highlighting the institution’s commitment to supporting local art and
culture. Following this, the artist delivered a speech sharing his inspiration
behind the art pieces and announced that proceeds from the sales will go
towards purchasing vital medical equipment—such as wheelchairs, nebulizers,
hearing aids, blood pressure monitors, and walkers—to be donated to those in
need. Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan also delivered a few words before
joining Vice Mayor Nieto and Marvin Kim Tan for the ceremonial ribbon cutting,
marking the exhibit’s official launch. 
In Directions VI, Nieto reinvents his
signature metal art pieces with elements of modern Cubism, Cartography or the
art of map-making, and Assemblage art. Moving beyond his earlier focus on
planes, lines, and negative space, he now incorporates everyday objects—bolts,
nuts, screws, and hinges—as symbolic markers. These striking pieces pay tribute
to Manila’s cultural richness and include depictions of Manila’s Chinese
temples and historic districts like Binondo and San Nicolas.
The exhibition’s centerpiece, Temple Splendor, reimagines Chinese
temples with golden nuts arranged on a grid-like map of Manila. Complementing
the wall-mounted works are two free-standing sculptures—Nest of Healing and
Icons of Heritage. Forged from bronze and gold-plated alloys, these pieces
explore themes of healing and cultural preservation.
As the Chinese New Year draws near,
Directions VI pays homage to the rich traditions of Manila’s Chinese temples.
These vibrant hubs of cultural activity come alive with lion and dragon dances,
incense lighting, and offerings of lucky foods—time-honored practices that
reinforce familial and cultural unity.
Nieto’s latest creations highlight the
significance of safeguarding these cherished traditions while exploring new
dimensions of artistic expression.
Directions VI is now on display at The
Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery. Admission is free. For interested buyers, call +632
85270011 or +632 53015500, or email r.lo@themanilahotel.com.
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