A new museum is added to the much-needed list of nonformal educational institutions geared to teach people how to appreciate art and culture. The Yuchengco Museum opens its doors to the general public starting March 15, 2006. As a museum in the heart of the financial district of Makati City.
The Yuchengco Museum, Inc. is a nonprofit private foundation created specifically by Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco to display his collection of artwork and mount cultural and historical exhibitions. The establishment of this museum is a natural extension of Ambassador Yuchengco’s distinguished career as a businessman, diplomat, collector, philanthropist, patron of the arts, and advocate for education in the Philippines and beyond.
The museum’s primary goal is to foster a greater public appreciation of the finest in Filipino and Filipino-Chinese visual arts and creativity. In addition the Museum wishes to build cultural bridges to the regional Asia Pacific community by providing a venue for visiting and exchange exhibitions. The main vision is that of “Bridging,” of becoming the connecting link between the past (through exhibits and events with historical-related themes) and the present (by highlighting contemporary art, trends, designs, and popular culture); of bridging different cultures and varied sectors such as the business community, media, the academe, etc.
Four levels of exhibition spaces are open for traveling, exchange, and thematic exhibits. The Ground Floor Gallery houses the permanent collection with Filipino masters Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Carlos “Botong” Francisco all from the personal collection of Ambassador Yuchengco.
The museum opens with an exciting group of thematic exhibits culled from the Yuchengco Group of Companies corporate collections and those of the Yuchengco family. Most of these are being exhibited for the first time. They include: a feature wall on Anita Magsaysay-Ho as part of the museum’s celebration of March as International Women’s Month, The National Artists of the Philippines collection, Manny Baldemor’s Beasts of Burden paintings, Sharing Art, Sharing Life featuring paintings by husband and wife artists Antonio Austria and Norma Belleza, abstract paintings themed Soliloquy and illustration drawings called Oriental Rhythms both by H. Dee, Portraits of Philippine Heroes, a special historical exhibition on Jose Rizal: Remembrances of a Hero and the memorabilia collection of Ambassador Yuchengco, and the Spirit of EDSA 2 by Eduardo Castrillo at the museum courtyard.
The museum will be rolling out education programs, lectures, and a summer art program within the year. Museum hours are Mondays to Fridays 9am – 5pm and Saturdays from 9am – 12 noon. The Yuchengco Museum is at the Ground Floor, RCBC Towers, Sen Gil J Puyat corner Ayala Avenue, Makati City. For more information, please call (632) 889-1234.
