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Catharsis has always been the lodestone by which Dennis “Sio” Montera produces his distinctive form of Filipino Abstraction. The Cebu City-based MFA graduate of UP Diliman, and faculty member of UP College Cebu, utilizes an opposition between acrylic-based media and brilliantly-coloured paints with black bitumen tar, a medium more known for paving roads and sealing gutters than for painting canvas panels. And yet, such an unlikely approach to material is not entirely against the Modernist grain: the black paintings of Ad Reinhardt and Frank Stella in the 1950s also used tar in order to exploit their intense tonality of black, as well as the reflective, sometimes opalescent sheen that the oils of the tar excrete from reflecting light. The material integrity of oil and acrylic (provided that the first lies on top of the second) is also proven from those paintings by Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning dating back to the 1940s—but all of this, of course, should not be an issue to those who see in Montera’s paintings as not an ambivalent conflict between water-based and oil-based media, but rather in the vision of elemental—and thus metaphorical—conflict resolved into significant form. As far back as 2004, when Montera finished his first magnum opus, Penitensiya, both the use of media as well as the concept of an epic conflict to be resolved was already transmitted through his meditation of penitential labour as a peculiarly Filipino aesthetic form of psychic as well as social redemption.
In his 2009 series Aftermath, Montera utilizes the near-catastrophes and lucky breaks that he has experienced in his personal life over the past year as the aesthetic source of his catharsis: his wife’s difficult ectopic pregnancy, as well as his mother’s bout with kidney cancer, that tested both his emotional and financial strength, and eventually managed to resolve these crises successfully. The return of normal life in the Montera household was the chance for Sio to meditate on the fragility of existence, and realize that “life held no guarantees.” Liberated from a sense of deliberation, Sio eviscerate his painting style into a freer and more spontaneous fragmentation of motif. Gone were the long loops, spatially-delimited blocks, and carefully-laid diagonal drips that characterized his 2006-2008 paintings, and in turn the “open forms” of randomly intersecting circular splashes and thrown drips, the freer colour brushwork, and the emphasis on entropy rather than structure became dominant elements in his new work. The results also imply a more energetic restlessness and unwillingness to compromise on his artistic convictions.
This transition can be seen in The Beginnings of Panic, where the previous tendency to “block out” colour and black elements begins to fray, as the compositional blocks float amidst flying debris of painted texture and black, like asteroids smashing against each other in the colourful void of a nebula. Newfound Rapture is the resolution of such a “crisis,” where the compositional placements of underlying aquamarine, magenta, and white acrylic painted blocks are reworked repeatedly to form a dense base, looking rather like fantastic cave wall formations, upon which the black tar is then flung as a foreground element, becoming like trace patterns of bats flying in neon-inflected space. In The Vicissitudes of the Seasons, Sio summarizes his past year’s life as one of order interspersed with chaos, and resolved with order: the base colour blocks that march in horizontal regularity are layered with a vertical frenzy of gestural texture, and then is finished with an uneven grid of black lines. Aftermath may be the account of one artist whose life went briefly to hell and back, but Dennis “Sio” Montera also provides us with the comfort that every catastrophe is also an opportunity to learn and grow. Indeed, Sio’s “aftermath” also proves his aesthetic capacity to resolve crisis with a cathartic renewal, a phoenix of work that rises from the ashes of despair.

Academic training has exposed Dennis ‘Sio’ Montera, initially, in creating realist-inspired nature visual artworks before he finally found his own illustrative language.

On his fifth-year as an artist, he came back to Cebu City armed with a Masters degree in painting earned from University of the Philippines. Sio mounted two important solo exhibitions on abstract art at the Art Center of SM City Cebu and Bluewater Gallery of Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort. These shows received accolade from critics and collectors, alike, and brought to the community a fresh take on serious visual art. That two special occasions baptized Sio as one of the few visual artists who have taken the road less travelled – the exploration of the non-objective realm in mainstream art.

Sio, as his intimates call him, takes inspiration from the likes of Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollock, Jean Dubuffet, Cy Twombly, Jean Michel Basquiat and Antoni Tapies. He admits that Philippine artists like Nestor Vinluan, Lao Lianben, and Jose Joya joins the list of artists that stirred him to undertake a personal experiment materials, tools and effects.

Sio Montera began to mix industrial materials with the conventional artist’s paints. After hundreds of hours of test and trials he succeeded in integrating diverse resources into a convincing overall composition. His canvasses are condensed into massive, encrusted color-filled paintings of either gestural lines or scratched surfaces. The lines created in his gestural works often resemble coagulated ink blots that glide from one corner to the other with total abandon and freedom. The scratched/scraped picture plane is the most recent reinvention of the artist’s style and the indentations on the surface of the paintings function like individual graffiti, the artist set of personal coded references inscribed on the work’s ground like hardened symbols or signs.

In this latest exhibition dubbed “AbstracSIOn II” which opens to the public on August 14, the artist metaphorically combines artistic production with immediate experiences of his human existence. Each of the works creates an overall effect that is based from the language of the artist’s soul and is considered by him as emblems and symbolic indications of his presence in this short life. These new installment of Sio Montera’s work has also taken distance from the linear logic of adults to arrive at the impulsive logic of children. The created visual field reassures flatness that is both direct and embracing typical of the spontaneity inherent in the spur-of-the-moment, scribble drawings. They represent for him an extraordinary mirror for multiplying or shattering imagery to reinvent or exorcize life.

Bluewater Gallery will feature Dennis “Sio” Montera’s exhibit from August 14 to September 12, 2009. For exhibit viewing appointment, get in touch with Gallery Coordinator Ruben B. Licera, Jr. at (63 32) 492 0100 local 512 or email

One word descriptives of resorts usually run from the extremes of hot to cool. Normally, both are taken as compliments depending on how the resort positions itself, with anything in between being almost literally the equivalent of the purgatorial afterlife. Limbo, in other words.
But some resorts, more ambitious than others and, more importantly willing to put their wallets – fat, hopefully -- where their ambitious mouths are, try for the both hot and cool at the same time. An instance where, in a twist to the law of physics about opposites attracting, opposites join together to become an even bigger attraction.
While Victor Vergara, 43, is no stranger to physics, even if industrial engineering, his professional affiliation, might have less to do with physics than its other co-curricular courses, it is aesthetics and, frankly, business – after all aesthetics is big business -- together with some helpful egging on from some friends that have encouraged him to push for the hot and cool together in their resort.
With some space to spare and an ambitious expansion and refitting project in the works, Vergara took the plunge in December of last year with the inaugural show of Negregosanon poster boy for local art making it big in the international art scene, Nunelucio Alvarado.
Still, at that time, there was some hesitation. It wasn't until after that show that the Maribago Bluewater Gallery was established with the small but important exigent of making the name official, emblazoned discreetly yet firmly and tastefully in the show window of the main gallery room.
Four exhibits later, the gallery currently hosts its first show of abstracts by Dennis 'Sio' Montera, titled, 'AbstractSIOns,' that will run until November 17.

Cool change
Since his return from Manila in where he earned his masters degree in studio arts -- with honors -- from the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Montera has established himself as the leading 'cool', formalist abstractionist artist in Cebu.
This sets him off, though not necessarily in opposition, to the other established abstractionist of Cebu, Tito Cuevas, whose immediately palpable emotional, 'hot' expressionism belies an affinity to Pollock's 'action painting' as contrasted with the 'cool' impersonality of Rothko's atmospherics that Montera employs.
Actually, Montera pays homage to both moderns along with his own unique contributions, mostly in the area of materials use and application techniques, especially as far its acceptability with and utilization among local artists. The drip elements of Pollock is immediately apparent but the compositional color field approach of Rothko is somewhat hinted at with its color juxtapositioning though with harder, more defined edges.
Unlike his comeback show at the SM Art Center in February 2004, where the spotlight was on the newly incorporated industrial materials that Montera had been experimenting with – industrial resin and with teams of workers using industrial tools, -- this show steps back to his rawer, more immediate instincts that shows texture without the seeming denial of texturality by the encasing or laminating process and effect evident in that earlier show.
Also, with the exception of the main piece, measuring 12ft. by 4ft. dominating the main exhibit room, the works in this show have been reduced down to not only human scale, but, more importantly, mobile scale; the scale at which things are easy to travel with, especially as either carry-on or check-in luggage on the passenger plane.

Small change
Yet, Montera says that this is only inadvertent. “I was actually making many of the smaller pieces for my show at SM for next year, when I received word from my manager, Jude Bacalso, that this show was pushing through. So, why not show the pieces that were ready?.”
Just the same, he says that the largeness of a work doesn't seem to deter serious collectors from buying. “Two of my 4ft by 4ft works were bought by Manila-based locals. They simply had it packed for check-in baggage on the plane.” he said.
Still, for his part, Vergara, who currently acts as both curator and gallery manager, assures potential collectors, especially resort guests, that the gallery will assist in the shipment of the works worldwide, through whatever preferred means, and ensure that the works are properly packed to withstand the rigors of shipping.
“When we decided to set up the gallery, we made sure that we were ready to make available this service to collectors who would buy the works since part of the joy of collecting is having access to the collected itema at the time and place where it they are to be enjoyed.” Vergara adds.
“Of course,” Montera concurs, “artists will always appreciate galleries who take care of such details. We artists cannot or should not be bothered with such details.”
It is clear which details Montera can and takes care be bothered with. His works are take both control and abandon, both of which take unimaginable details to master in its proper mix, balance and, ultimately, impact.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Resort gallery to feature abstract pieces

THE Bluewater Gallery will present the exhibition “Abstrac|SIO|n, which will feature artworks by Ce-buano abstractionist Dennis “Sio” Montera from Oct. 20 to Nov. 17.

Montera continues to break new ground with this new collection of works employing thickly dissolved and overlapped layers of acrylic, oil and asphalt that alternate between bright and muted tones.

To appreciate the paintings, the complete collection must be viewed as a whole—they become visual scribbling in an incomplete diary, each element representing words and sentences in a larger visual narrative of the artist’s life and adventures.

Style

In this body of works, modulations of color are stretched over infinite or calculated geometric space, encouraging views to examine closely, the tonal presence of partly covered hues and textures as they sit in delicate balance in both symmetrical and asymmetrical planes.

The show marks the artist’s sixth solo exhibition and his second for the current year.

Schedule

The Bluewater Gallery is located in Maribago Blue-water Beach Resort in Lapu-Lapu City and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

Non-resort guests are requested to call Juliet Amazona at 492-1808 or 232-5411 and arrange for an exhibit viewing appointment and for inquiries.

One may also send e-mail to .

February with all its clichés attached is the month of love and will always be a time for loving. And SM Art Center’s love offering will be a concept show on the art of loving by four local contemporary Cebuano artists. “Love Theories” by the artists group “Tuslob-Buwa” will showcase four individual experiences on love. The four aspects will dwell on love-lust, love-lists, love-lost, and love lasts.

Full-time artist Evan Bejec’s visual essay on love-list is a kind of New Year’s wish list. Here he makes a presentation on love that he wants to happen including his aspirations on what love means to him. His listings are personal ideals in the concrete form of both painting and sculpture.

Tackling of a love that’s lost, abstract expressionist artist and U.P. Fine Arts professor Dennis ‘Sio’ Montera will provide a visual teaching instruction. These are thoughts and raw feelings represented by abstract ideas. Montera’s works are often in a conceptual form and non-figurative imagery depicted in multi-layered color field works. His works are profound appropriations of the artist’s emotions from losing a special someone.

Jojo Sagayno is a member of the USC Fine Arts faculty and is the only one married in the group hence as a family man with two kids explores the fulfillment of loving and being loved in return. Doing composite media works combined with painting as a signature in his art making he concentrates our family bound love for country and countrymen.

The lust for love is akin to lust for life and Ritchie Quijano believes that the ultimate purpose and reason for living is to love. Thereby as an artist he sees it as of paramount importance to express it in art. The heart being the universal symbol of love takes a prominent place in the series of artworks he made.

Full of personal symbolisms “Love Theories” is a highly autobiographical sketch on love-related experiences each of the four artists underwent. “Love Theories” is the second major exhibition to start the year by the “Tuslob-Buwa” Artists Group and will be unveiled at the SM Art Center starting on February 2, 2007 and to last until the whole world celebrates Valentines Day.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS (VISUAL ARTS)
2017 A State of Introspection, Qube Gallery, Crossroads Mall, Banilad, Cebu City, Philippines
2015 In Situ, Qube Gallery, Crossroads Mall, Banilad Cebu City, Philippines
2014 One-Man-Sio, Qube Gallery, The Henry Hotel, Banilad Cebu City, Philippines
2013 DefiniSIOn, The Contemporary Gallery, A.S. Fortuna St.,Mandaue City, Philippines
2013 “Freedom of Expression”, Renaissance Gallery, Artwalk, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong
City, Philippines
2012 Foto+Abstracsion3, Bluewater Gallery, Bluewater Beach Resort, Mactan, Cebu, Philippines
2012 AbstracSIOnista, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
2011 SakripiSIO, Art Center, SM Megamall Bldg. A, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
2010 ExecuSIOn, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
2010 Sio on Canvas, Canvas Bistro.Bar.Gallery, The Terraces, Ayala Center, Cebu City
2009 Aftermath, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
2009 AbstracSIOn 2, Bluewater Gallery, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, Cebu, Philippines
2008 Eight for Eight: Solo Exhibition No.8, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Philippines
2007 Free-Form, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Cebu, City, Philippines
2006 AbstracSIOn, Bluewater Gallery, Bluewater Beach Resort, Cebu, Philippines
2006 Evolution, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Cebu City Philippines
2005 Consciousness, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Cebu City, Philippines
2004 Recent Works, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
2004 Penitensya, Little Theater Lobby, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City, Philippines
2000 One-Man-Sio, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Convention Center, Cebu City, Philippines

INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL ART FAIRS
2017 Art Kaohsiung, The Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
2017 ManilArt, SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Taguig City, Manila, Philippines
2016 Art Kaohsiung, The Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
2016 Tokyo International Art Fair 2016, Omotesando Hills, Tokyo Japan, Solo exhibit
2016 Asia Contemporary Art Show, Conrad-Hilton Hotel, Hong Kong
2015 Art Apart Fair Singapore, Park Royal Hotel, Singapore, Collective exhibit by Qube Gallery
2014 ManilArt Fair, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines
2013 ManilArt Fair, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines
2012 2014 ManilArt Fair, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS & BIENNALES
2017 Unique Realities, Trevisan International Art, Ateneo de Madrid, Sala Prado, C/Prado 21,
Madrid, Spain
2017 Little Treasures, Curated by Paola Trevisan, Galleri de Marchi, Bologna, Italy
2016 Little Treasures, Curated by Paola Trevisan, Galleri de Marchi, Bologna, Italy
2015 Cross-Cultural Impressions, An-Ping District Cultural Exhibition Center, International
Talent Hub, Institute of Creative Industries Design- NCKU, Tainan, Taiwan
2014 Giving Back Art, The Space Gallery, Gangnam, South Korea, Organized by GF4D
2013 Festival 12x12, 12 Regards D’ Artistes, Association Le Cent, Établissement Culturel
Solidaire, 100 Rue de Charenton, 75012 Paris, France
2013 Grand Soiree Philippine, Avec le Soutien de l’Ambassade des Philippines a Paris, Samedi,
28 Septembre, Viaduc des Artes, #57 Avenue Dausmenil, Paris
2013 Philippine Art Trek, Forest Rain Gallery, 261 Waterloo St., Singapore
2012 5th Beijing International Art Biennale, Beijing, China
2011 4th East Java Fine Art Biennale, Galeri Surabaya, Indonesia
2011 Asian International Art Exhibition, Hangaram Gallery, Seoul Arts Center, South Korea

SELECT COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS (VISUAL ARTS)
2017 Southwind, Invitational Exhibit, Gallerie Roberto, Molito Lifestyle Center, Alabang, Philippines
2017 Renaissance Gallery Invitational Anniversary Exhibition, Art Center, SM Megamall,Mandaluyong City, Philippines
2016 Set in Motion, Dennis ‘Sio’ Montera and Jewelle Yeung Exhibition, Radisson Blu Lobb, Cebu City, Philippines
2013 New Acquisitions, An Exhibit of Works Endowed to the University of the Philippines Art
Collection, Bulwagan Ng Dangal at Atelyer, Gonzalez Hall, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City
2012 Cebu Contemporary, Curated Exhibition by JV Castro, Cebu City Museum
2012 Homecoming Exhibit, 26th Asian International Art Exhibition, Ayala Museum, Makati Avenue, Manila, Philippines
2011 Contemporary Cebu, Curated by JV Castro, Picasso Botique Serviced Residencies, Makat Cityi,Philippines
2010 Itum ug Puti, An Exhibition by Sio Montera, Eghai Roxas, and Javy Villacin, Sining Kamalig Art Gallery, 4th Level, Gatewall
Wall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
2011 Cuevas.Montera.Villacin, 856-G Gallery, A.S. Fortuna St., Cebu City, Philippines
2012 Ekzena, Ricco Renzo Gallery, G/f LRI Design Plaza, N. Garcia St. Bel-Air 2, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
2009 Collaboration, Le Souffle Restaurant and Wine Bar, The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines

Since 1994, Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. has successfully organized and staged the Philippine Art Awards (PAA) producing a significant portfolio of past winners who are now considered the cream of the crop in the Philippine visual art scene. Every two years, a select panel of distinguished judges chooses ten winners from four regions (Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) to further compete for one Grand Prize and seven Juror’s Choices.

In the Visayas region, the awarding ceremonies were held at the Museo Iloilo last September 8, 2011. According to the organizers, there were more than 100 entries submitted by artists from Panay, Negros, Samar, Leyte and Cebu but only 10 were to adjudged Jurors Choice for the region. The ten jurors choice for the Visayas Art Awards were: Rommel Anglacer Garde, Iloilo City; Cezar Arro, Oton, Iloilo; Arel Zambarrano, Banate, Iloilo; Lester Joey Amacio, Iloilo City; and Tyrone Dave Espinoza, Lapaz, Iloilo City., Gary Custodio, Kalibo Aklan; Peter James Fantinalgo, Bacolod City, Marvin Chito Natural, Toledo City, Cebu; Jana Jumalon-Alano, Dumaguete City; and Dennis “Sio” Montera, Cebu City.

National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, Gov. Arthur Defensor, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and PMFTC President Chris Nelson honored them during the Awarding and Exhibition Opening Ceremony at Museo Iloilo, Iloilo City.
The winners received P40,000 each as cash prize, and a trophy made by National artist Napoleon Abueva. Furthermore, they get the chance to compete with winners from Luzon, Mindanao, and Metro Manila in the 2012 Philippine Arts Awards National Finals. The Philippine Arts Awards is the most prestigious visual art competition in the country. The grand winner will then receive P350,000 and seven Jurors Choice Excellence Award (P120,000), and Merit Award (P80,000).

In addition, the national winners will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Hongkong, a dynamic art market in Asia. In March 2012, the winners from Luzon, NCR, Visayas and Mindanao will vie for the national prize in an exhibition that will be mounted in the National Museum of the Philippines.

“Alas Cuatro” is an art exhibition by “Tuslob-Buwa”, an art group composed of four contemporary visual artists in Cebu namely Jojo Sagayno, Evan Bejec, Sio Montera, and Ritchie Quijano. The show highlights the four individual directions each have taken hence the title “Alas Cuatro”.

The exhibit takes significance because the group’s composition and the number signify solidity in structure. In a deck of cards, there can be only four aces and nothing more therefore “Tuslob-Buwa” as a group is complete.

The four are in the prime of their artistic professions. Jojo Sagayno is a progressive mixed-media conceptual artist and currently a member of the faculty of the College of Architecture and Fine Arts at the University of San Carlos. Evan Bejec was educated in the Fine Arts of U.P. and is both a dedicated painter and prolific wood sculptor. He also teaches Basic Drawing at SM Cebu’s Summer Art School annually. Sio Montera is an inexhaustible abstract expressionist painter and has mounted numerous solo shows to his credit. He completed his MFA at UP Diliman and is presently an Assistant Professor in the Fine Arts program of the University of the Philippines Cebu College. Lastly, Ritchie Quijano pursues the craft of both painting and sculpture. Extremely passionate in the field of art, Ritchie currently writes for Sun Star Daily covering the arts and culture scene of Cebu City.

The quadro of four emerging artists are set to unveil their most recent works at the Bluewater Gallery of Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort form January 19, 2006 to February 18, 2006.

The Bluewater Gallery is located in Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort in Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines and is open from 10AM to 6PM on weekdays and from 10AM to 8PM on weekends. Non-resort guests are requested to call Ms. Juliet Amazona at 492-1808 or 232-5411 and arrange for an exhibit viewing appointment. For inquiries, you can call the above numbers or email the gallery at .

EDUCATION
2018 Ph.D. Candidate, Institute of Creative Industries’ Design, National Cheng Kung
University, Tainan, Taiwan
2004 Master in Fine Arts, College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines (Diliman)
1996 Bachelor in Fine Arts, Major in Painting, University of the Philippines (Cebu) 1990 - 1995

SOLO EXHIBITIONS (VISUAL ARTS)
2017 A State of Introspection, Qube Gallery, Crossroads Mall, Banilad, Cebu City, Philippines
2015 In Situ, Qube Gallery, Crossroads Mall, Banilad Cebu City, Philippines
2014 One-Man-Sio, Qube Gallery, The Henry Hotel, Banilad Cebu City, Philippines
2013 DefiniSIOn, The Contemporary Gallery, A.S. Fortuna St.,Mandaue City, Philippines
2013 “Freedom of Expression”, Renaissance Gallery, Artwalk, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong
City, Philippines
2012 Foto+Abstracsion3, Bluewater Gallery, Bluewater Beach Resort, Mactan, Cebu, Philippines
2012 AbstracSIOnista, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
2011 SakripiSIO, Art Center, SM Megamall Bldg. A, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
2010 ExecuSIOn, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
2010 Sio on Canvas, Canvas Bistro.Bar.Gallery, The Terraces, Ayala Center, Cebu City
2009 Aftermath, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
2009 AbstracSIOn 2, Bluewater Gallery, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, Cebu, Philippines
2008 Eight for Eight: Solo Exhibition No.8, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Philippines
2007 Free-Form, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Cebu, City, Philippines
2006 AbstracSIOn, Bluewater Gallery, Bluewater Beach Resort, Cebu, Philippines
2006 Evolution, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Cebu City Philippines
2005 Consciousness, Art Center, SM City Cebu, Cebu City, Philippines
2004 Recent Works, Renaissance Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
2004 Penitensya, Little Theater Lobby, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City, Philippines
2000 One-Man-Sio, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Convention Center, Cebu City, Philippines

INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL ART FAIRS
2017 Art Kaohsiung, The Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
2017 ManilArt, SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Taguig City, Manila, Philippines
2016 Art Kaohsiung, The Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
2016 Tokyo International Art Fair 2016, Omotesando Hills, Tokyo Japan, Solo exhibit
2016 Asia Contemporary Art Show, Conrad-Hilton Hotel, Hong Kong
2015 Art Apart Fair Singapore, Park Royal Hotel, Singapore, Collective exhibit by Qube Gallery
2014 ManilArt Fair, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines
2013 ManilArt Fair, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines
2012 2014 ManilArt Fair, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS & BIENNALES
2017 Unique Realities, Trevisan International Art, Ateneo de Madrid, Sala Prado, C/Prado 21,
Madrid, Spain
2017 Little Treasures, Curated by Paola Trevisan, Galleri de Marchi, Bologna, Italy
2016 Little Treasures, Curated by Paola Trevisan, Galleri de Marchi, Bologna, Italy
2015 Cross-Cultural Impressions, An-Ping District Cultural Exhibition Center, International
Talent Hub, Institute of Creative Industries Design- NCKU, Tainan, Taiwan
2014 Giving Back Art, The Space Gallery, Gangnam, South Korea, Organized by GF4D
2013 Festival 12x12, 12 Regards D’ Artistes, Association Le Cent, Établissement Culturel
Solidaire, 100 Rue de Charenton, 75012 Paris, France
2013 Grand Soiree Philippine, Avec le Soutien de l’Ambassade des Philippines a Paris, Samedi,
28 Septembre, Viaduc des Artes, #57 Avenue Dausmenil, Paris
2013 Philippine Art Trek, Forest Rain Gallery, 261 Waterloo St., Singapore
2012 5th Beijing International Art Biennale, Beijing, China
2011 4th East Java Fine Art Biennale, Galeri Surabaya, Indonesia
2011 Asian International Art Exhibition, Hangaram Gallery, Seoul Arts Center, South Korea

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2014 Gawad Dekana Award, Most Outstanding Achievement in Creative Work, University of the
Philippines Cebu, Cebu City, Philippines
2013 Artist in Residence, Association Le Cent, Établissement Culturel Solidaire, 100 Rue de
Charenton, 75012 Paris, France
2011 Professorial Chair Award for Creative Work, University of the Philippines Cebu
2011 Juror’s Choice, Philippine Art Awards, Visayas Region, Museo Iloilo, Iloilo City
2010 Chancellor’s Award, Most Outstanding Achievement in Creative Work, University of the
Philippines Visayas, Iloilo City
2010 First Prize, Non-Figurative Category, 2010 GSIS National Art Competition, Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) Museo Ng Sining, Pasay City, Philippines
2009 Honorable Mention, AAP-ECCA Semi-Annual Abstract Art Competition, Manila,
Philippines
2008 Chancellor’s Award, Most Outstanding Achievement in Creative Work, University of the
Philippines Visayas, Iloilo City, Philippines
2008 Ramon Durano Professorial Chair Award, University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu
Philippines
2001 Finalist, Philippine Art Awards, Metropolitan Museum, Pasay City, Philippines

INSITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2012-2010 Vice-Head, National Committee on Visual Arts, National Commission for Culture and
the Arts
2013-2012 Member, Art Association of the Philippines
2013-2012 Member, Philippine Art Educators Association
2009-2007 Executive Committee Member, National Committee on Visual Arts, National
Commission for Culture and the Arts
2009 Founding Member and Trustee, Creative Cebu Council Inc. Visual Arts Sector Rep.
2008-2010 Chairperson, PUSOD INC. The Open Organization of Cebu Visual Artists

CONFERENCE PAPER PRESENTATIONS
2016 Peripheral Realities: Visual Artists in Cebu Philippines, 2016 International Service
Innovation Design Conference (ISIDC), Chiang-Mai City, Thailand
2016 Religious Folk Practice and the Creative Industries: A Portrait of Cebu City, Healthy Cities
and Living Conference 2016 (HCLC), Tainan City, Taiwan
2013 Current State of the Visual Arts and Design in U.P. Cebu, Conference on the Visual Arts
and Design Education at the Tertiary Level, The Art and Design Educators’ Council
(ARTDEC), College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

PUBLICATIONS
2012 Author, Directory of Visual Artists in the Philippines: Visayas Region, Published by the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
2006 Author, Thirty Years of the Jose T. Joya Awards: The UP Cebu Art Collection
Catalog, Published by the University of the Philippines Cebu

SELECT COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS (VISUAL ARTS)
2017 Southwind, Invitational Exhibit, Gallerie Roberto, Molito Lifestyle Center, Alabang,
Philippines
2017 Renaissance Gallery Invitational Anniversary Exhibition, Art Center, SM Megamall,
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
2016 Set in Motion, Dennis ‘Sio’ Montera and Jewelle Yeung Exhibition, Radisson Blu
Lobby, North Reclamation, Cebu City, Philippines
2013 New Acquisitions, An Exhibit of Works Endowed to the University of the Philippines Art
Collection, Bulwagan Ng Dangal at Atelyer, Gonzalez Hall, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City
2012 Cebu Contemporary, Curated Exhibition by JV Castro, Cebu City Museum
2012 Homecoming Exhibit, 26th Asian International Art Exhibition, Ayala Museum, Greenbelt
Park, Makati Avenue, Manila, Philippines
2011 Contemporary Cebu, Curated by JV Castro, Picasso Botique Serviced Residencies, Makati,
Metro Manila, Philippines
2010 Itum ug Puti, An Exhibition by Sio Montera, Eghai Roxas, and Javy Villacin, Sining
Kamalig Art Gallery, 4th Level, Gatewall Wall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
2011 Cuevas.Montera.Villacin, 856-G Gallery, A.S. Fortuna St., Cebu City, Philippines
2012 Ekzena, Ricco Renzo Gallery, G/f LRI Design Plaza, N. Garcia St. Bel-Air 2, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
2009 Collaboration, Le Souffle Restaurant and Wine Bar, The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines

The 6th Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) 2010 Art Competition announced this year’s batch of winners last June 7, 2010 at the GSIS Theater in Pasay City. Figuring prominently with major awards were Cebuano painters Dennis ‘Sio’ Montera, Felix Catarata and Warlen Rodriguez.

In the Non-Representational or ‘abstract’ category, U.P. Professor Dennis ‘Sio’ Montera took home the first prize; Felix Catarata and Warlen Rodriguez won first and second prize respectively in the Representational category. In the Sculpture category, Joe Geraldo of Negros Occidental won the first prize. The winning artists received a trophy and cash awards worth P 300,000.00, P200, 000.00 and P100, 000.00 for first, second, and third prize in each of the three categories respectively. This year’s competition were judged by National artists Ben Cabrera and Napoleon Abueva, Ms. Corazon Alvina, Ms. Sylvana Diaz, Mr. Eric Zerrudo, Luis Yee Jr. (Junyee), and Mr. Angel Cacnio.

Following in the footsteps of past GSIS winners from Cebu; Fred Galan (1st Prize-Representational category 2009), Florentino ‘Jun’ Impas (2nd Prize Representational category 2009), Antonio Ylanan (1st Prize, 2008), Orley Ypon (2nd Prize, 2008), (Jose Ybanez – Juror’s Choice 2008), this year’s winners have made it more special garnering two first prize awards out of the three categories and making a bold statement in the usually NCR-dominated Philippine art scene.

It was also a grand slam of sorts for the Cebu art community as the GSIS also bestowed a pioneering Artist of the Year Award to Cebuano Master Romulo Galicano for his achievements in the field of visual art and his legacy to the art community in general. Through a selection committee, the GSIS has previously awarded National Artists Napoleon Abueva and Ben Cabrera in this same capacity but extended this year’s qualification to accomplished artists not bestowed the National Artist title.
Galicano received a medal and special citation for his recognition.

Outgoing GSIS President and General Manager Winston Garcia was elated to see the Cebuano artists take the top honors in this prestigious competition. Speaking before a capacity crowd at the GSIS Theater, Garcia feels heartily indebted to the artists who have joined the competition over the years and wishes that the next GSIS leadership will continue to provide a competitive venue for artists to express themselves. He further adds that the GSIS Museo Ng Sining now possess 45 pieces of award-winning works as part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

The GSIS believes in the Filipino artist and his invaluable role in shaping how the country thinks. The GSIS through the Annual Art Competition has once again renewed its pledge to support artists all over the country, whose aim is to showcase the best paintings and sculptures of this generation.