About Us

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) proudly congratulates the Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talento (KUNST Pilipino) as a recipient of the BanaagAward of the 2021 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO).

KUNST (German word for art) is an acronym for Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talento which helps artists (Visual and Performing arts) to promote their talent locally and internationally. It is founded by Virgilio Cuizon with the support of Bill Perez and Aris Bagtas.

FILIPINISM
What Makes Art Filipino

Filipinism, according to Jose P.Laurel is the assertion of one’s national birthright with patriotism defined as love of country as primary element.

In the art scene, Filipinism is not a new movement. It is way of showing the real identity of the artist as Filipino in his/her artwork. We coined Filipinism as legacy of our exhibitions.

It is the aesthetic and conceptualization of the artist’s ideas and the infusion of heart and soul in every piece they make that makes Filipinism. Everyone has his/her own way of molding personality and character to form a unique Filipino Identity

It can begin from the inspiring childhood environment where the artist observe and immerse themselves themselves in.

It is not necessary a place of origin, the language you use or specific genre or medium one uses. (One can be Filipino living in a foreign land or using different tongue. The intricacies and knowledge of painting and nature of medium come from Europe).

Historically, Filipinism in the art world began during the impressionism period wherein  Juan Luna won the 1^st gold with his masterpiece Spoliarium over Spanish masters Antonio Munoz Degrain and Jose Moreno Carbonero who got the 2^nd and 3^rd gold respectively at the 11^th Edition of Exposicion National Bellas Artes in Madrid, Spain in the year 1884. There was also Felix Ressureccion Hidalgo who won one of the 9 Silver medals in the same competition.

It is proven that Filipino artist is one of the best in the world  in visual art today like what Luna and Hidalgo have proven in 1884 and Max Balatbat who won the Silver Medal at the Lorenzo II Magnifico Award during the 7^th Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy in the year 2009.

Objectives of KUNST
1. To help promote the performing and visual artists thru exhibition and concerts locally and internationally.
2. To hone the skills of artists and students thru free art demonstrations, seminars and art-workshops.
3. To spread art appreciation and education to the public thru free art outreach, seminars and workshops.
4. To professionalize the art industry by maintaining high quality standards for the performing and visual arts.

KUNST Art Outreach
Kunst travel around the Philippines to give free art workshop to artists, teachers, students and children.
Kunst promote and support artists by organising exhibits locally and internationally .

Immersion for Visual and Performing Arts
Kunst has partnered with schools in giving free Immersion in Visual Arts. One of the schools  is the Batangas Province High School for Culture and Arts for students specialising in Visual  and Performing Arts  for 2 consecutive years since 2018.
The immersion is one week. A  daily lecture about history of art, art appreciation, elements of art, color wheel, silk screen printing, portraiture, realism, landscape and still life and at the same time art demonstration and workshop for the said topic.
Douglas Nierras, artistic director of Douglas Nierras Powerdance gave a free lecture and demonstration  about Dance.
The students are also taught to make their own canvas.

Kunst Art Therapy
During the eruption of Taal Volcano on 2020,  Kunst started an art therapy in cooperation with Batangas Culture and Arts Council (BCAC) called ” Arts for the Soul” for  the victims in different evacuation centres in the province of Batangas. Art workshop, dances from Douglas Nierras Powerdance and music from A Cappella Manila were organised to ease the burdens of the evacuees for a few minutes.
Kunst distributed also relief goods to evacuees in different evacuation centres donated by  ALAEH e.V. (Association Lending Assistance in Exigencies at Home), Germany and Keep On Dancing Association in  Paris, France.

Kunst Charity
KUNST has partnered with World Vision, SOS Children Village and SVD Tagaytay in its fund raising campaign thru art exhibition and auction in which the proceeds goes to their beneficiaries.
KUNST artists donated paintings to support the Hepatology Society of the Philippines  and 50 paintings to Philippine January 19, 2017 Madrigal Singers for fund raising in its 5oth year Anniversary at CCP.
2015
KUNST donates Php 25,000.00 for the partial medication of Knowah Aiden Villena who was suffering from Wiscott Aldrich Syndrome Disease.
2017
KUNST donated Php 165,000.00 to Gawad Kalinga to fund their feeding program for 50 Children which were victims of Marawi Siege.
2010
KUNST brought relief goods to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in a barangay of Taguig City
2012
In cooperation with Manila Hotel, Kunst organised an exhibition at Manila Hotel to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Sendong.

Kunst Donation

KUNST donated paintings for the raffle prizes of ALAEH e.V. ( Association Lending Assistance in Exigencies at Home) Germany, Samahan ng mga Plilipino sa Luxemburg Asbl, ENFID ( European Network for Filipinos in Diaspora) and Enfid Germany.

KUNST also donated 4 paintings of Miguel Malvar to Museo ng Batangas and 1 for Bolbok Elem. School.

KUNST donated also Rizal paintings to Philippine Embassies in Berlin, Germany; Bern, Switzerland; Prague, Czech Republic.

FILIPINISM in Davao

Filipinism: What Makes Art Filipino

By: Wilfred Dexter G. Tañedo

In a very rare opportunity, two international award winning Filipino visual artists and an art impresario will have a one day art affair at the Mezzanine of the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Palma Gil St., Davao City, this September 18, 2015 at 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.  Entitled Filipinism – What Makes Art Filipino is a follow through of the successful European exhibit of the same name handled by KUNST Pilipino (Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talentong Plipino) that aims to bring forth a legacy for Filipino talents.  Filipinism, as defined for this event, is the way an artist put their soul unto canvas using the colors and influences of the master.

This one day only art affair will host several events almost every hour on the hour from an exclusive viewing and art sessions for specially invited guests in the morning and an open art exhibit, forum and free workshop to the public in the afternoon.

Heading this unique art exhibit is Mr. Virgilio Godoy Cuizon, an art manager, art critic and curator residing in Germany who is also a recipient of the 2004 Presidential Award (Banaag), Kunst Managing Director and News Correspondent of ABS-CBN TFC.  He will be giving a talk and open forum by 1:00 pm about what makes art Filipino. Artists, Art Academicians and students can benefit from this talk to look into the insight of Filipino art and the international art scene.

Joining him also are the featured artists, Mr. Aris Bagtas and Mr. Emmanuel Nim. Both artists have won several awards and recognition, have done countless solo and group exhibits locally and abroad (specifically in Asia and Europe) and their works proudly hanging in different homes of notable art collectors, international hotels, churches and government agencies.

Mr. Aris Bagtas is a graduate and a one-time faculty of the University of the East thus earning him his Outstanding Alumni award in 2003 because of the honor he has given to his alma mater. His notable art works have religious theme as well as everyday life and family life executed in a modern distinct Filipino-styled art strokes embellished with details and symbols. Mr. Bagtas also have mural works that can be seen in San Diego Parish, Valenzuela City, St. Camillus Collection, Essen,  Germany among others.
Together with him is Mindanoaon born-artist (he was born in Polomolok, South Cotabato) Mr. Emmanuel Nim, known for his hyperrealism and surrealism styled art works, is one of the seven artists that painted the Philippine Air Force Mural permanently exhibited in the Philippine Air Force Museum, Pasay City and one of the ten artist commissioned by the Erehwon Center for the Arts to paint the controversial “PNP-SAF Fallen 44 Mural”.

As a rare treat, the two artists will demonstrate their style and techniques and follow it up with a free workshop to select guests, audience and invited students from the different art schools of Davao City in the afternoon after the talk of Mr. Virgilio Cuizon.  Those joining the workshop are advised to bring different colored felt paper and oil pastel (Pentel brand is preferred to achieve the desired output for the workshop)