Art at Home

The Avellana Art Gallery differentiates between art that is “seen” and art that is “experienced”

By Trina D. Dela Rama

Driving down the lush, tree-lined street of a circa-1950s residential compound in Pasay City paves the way for a study of contrasts. Past the gates, the land is verdant, while the streets outside are gritty. The deafening noise of vehicles and hawkers fade into serene whispers echoed by a passing breeze. Time stands still as single-detached post–World War II era homes provide a dose of nostalgia. Set against rows of nightclubs, motels, and karaoke bars outside, one can distinguish between the temporal and the timeless. In this enclave of understated elegance, art is a matter of coexistence.

For the art and the artist

House A-19 at 2680 F.B. Harrison Street sits towards the end of an acacia-lined street. A charming two-storey wooden house, it exudes the warmth of a grandmother’s home. If not for a colorful sculpture poised in the front lawn, there would hardly be any indication that this house contains a treasure trove of masterpieces. The Avellana Art Gallery is arresting because of the calm, spacious lushness of its location and its exceptional approach to housing art. By its very nature, the gallery is an oasis, a place that stands to differentiate between art that is “seen” and art that is “experienced.”

Exuding the warmth of a grandmother’s home, the Avellana Art Gallery contains a treasure trove of masterpieces

Owner and curator Albert Avellana chose House A-19 as the place “to create a house for art and the artist.” The preciseness of its location cannot be ignored: the air is heavy with the rich heritage of the once-glorious city, the range of people living within and beyond its periphery merits an all-at-once simple yet sophisticated texture, and the contradictions on which the house is built give the flavor of coexistence that cannot be copied. “The mix is an art itself that is not trendy. In fact, it creates the trend,” explains Avellana. “It gives the space a life of its own, so that the space is not reduced to an artificial life.” The result is an art experience that few can offer, one that makes guests return over and over. Many, in fact, have likened the experience to “coming home.”

From the moment one walks into the foyer of the wooden house, an overwhelming sense of comfort prevails. Absent here is the stiffness associated with galleries. Instead, the atmosphere immediately puts one at ease and provides the freedom to explore two-floors’ worth of art. Large open windows allow natural light to illuminate the space and fresh air to ventilate it, while original hand-painted Machuca tiles serve as a playful palette for the visual mix of paintings and sculptures. The artwork is arranged as one would place them in a home or office—nothing is contrived or too inaccessible or intimidating for one’s appreciation. “Here, people can just come in, mingle, and enjoy,” shares Avellana. “It is not part of our system to look for art, to take comfort in its spiritual side. That is what the gallery offers—a respite in the company of good art.”

Accessible art

This philosophy of “accessible art” has been at the core of the Avellana Art Gallery since it first opened its doors in 1997 in a small space along Roxas Boulevard. It has moved a number of times since. Its last location in Fresno Street, also in Pasay, set the precedent for a gallery with a residential setting. The blend of modern art and old-world charm in the houses Avellana selects seems to work best in inviting people to the gallery. Always, Avellana is the gracious host to guests and artists alike. “Offhand, the artwork I choose for the gallery is art that I like, art that I believe others will enjoy as well.”

The powerful relationship of similarity and contrast is alive and well in this house

The fusion of art pieces in the gallery’s collections is testament to the eclectic mix that seems to draw Avellana into a lengthy discussion on his passion. Abstract expressionist pieces by young artists like Eugene Jarque, Lexygius Calip, Mac Valdezco, and Jojo Lofranco share space with pieces by established artists Arturo Luz, Florencio B. Concepcion, Lao Lianben, Gus Albor, Impy Pilapil, and Ivy and Alan Cosio, among others. The visual displays are arresting and hold a few surprises. The powerful relationship of similarity and contrast is alive and well in this house, a mirroring of the city’s psyche.

Guests are encouraged to attend exhibition openings to witness the shifting elements of the gallery at play. Hardly the high-hat event, artists and guests mingle for light conversation over food and beverage, oftentimes extending far into the day or the wee hours of morning. At times, the merriment stretches across the street to the A 11 Design Gallery of interior designer Eric Paras.

The refreshing concept of breakfast openings—complete with hearty breakfast fares of pandesal and kesong puti, lomi, and siopao, or the successful combination of champagne with brown rice and a Filipino viand—entice young and old alike to view the novel series of “small works” by various artists. Larger pieces, on the other hand, are exhibited in two rooms on the second floor.

Avellana’s careful management of the gallery is integral to the relationships he forms with artists, collectors, and guests. He sees the importance of going beyond commodity in art brokerage: “The difficult thing with art is that you’re actually selling an artist’s soul. The medium is just a vessel; the collector keeps a part of the artist himself. The creative part of the artist is in each piece of art—that’s what I take care of.”

It is this spirit, this insight into the artist’s creative genius, that Avellana wishes to share with others. “I want collectors to enjoy what they have. If they derive happiness from the art, good vibrations will project good karma to the artist,” he explains. “Value is measured by how much you like a piece of art. If you like the artwork, then the price is fair. Your happiness and satisfaction are immediate returns to your investment.”

Open Mondays through Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Avellana Art Gallery is located at House A-19, 2680 F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City. For further information, call (632) 833-8357