Press Release Art Trek 2025

Republic of the Philippines, September 26, 2025 – Filipino art academies are currently closed due to tropical cyclone Bualoi, which struck the islands today, causing landslides and floods and further aggravating a situation already marked by weeks of devastation from typhoons.

In this critical context, a glimmer of hope arrives from Rome: Atelier Montez renews its commitment to cultural solidarity with the Republic of the Philippines by launching a call for Filipino artists, aimed at keeping them united despite the challenges.

The initiative invites Filipino artists to exhibit their artworks at Atelier Montez during Art Trek, the cultural diplomacy program promoted by the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Rome. The exhibition, “Memorabilis: Interwoven Memories of Tomorrow between the Philippines and Italy”, presented by art historian Elisabetta Zeni, will open on November 7, 2025, at Atelier Montez (via di Pietralata 147/A, Rome – Italy), in the presence of artists and institutions.

This is not the first collaboration: in 2014, Atelier Montez, together with the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Rome, organized the charity auction “Artists for Philippines”, gathering more than 50 international artists to support the people of Tacloban after Typhoon Haiyan. The initiative raised funds to rebuild schools destroyed by the disaster. In the same spirit, Artistic Director Gio Montez now wishes to convey a strong message:

“In times of crisis, art is not only a form of expression, but also the most powerful means to foster unity, community, and resilience.”

Today, the artistic community has grown, and Filipino artists who respond to the current call will be invited not only to exhibit their artworks at Atelier Montez, but also to join the international ARTup Community, the decentralized network of over 2,000 artists gathered by Atelier Montez since 2012.

The exhibition’s testimonial will be Filipino artist Paul Alex M. Samaniego, who has collaborated with Atelier Montez for over a decade. For this occasion, he creates 30 new artworks: the Memorabilis series, from which the exhibition draws its title. Created on eco-leather (10 x 10 cm) with charcoal, ash, tempera, Arabic glue, and acrylic enamel, these artworks intertwine the material dimension of painting with digital languages, offering a profound reflection on memory, body, and perception.

Paul Alex M. Samaniego working on Memorabilis, 2025

Through this series, Samaniego explores the boundaries between Augmented and Virtual Reality, seeking to bridge the distance between diverse contexts. Visitors, equipped with a digital headset, will be able to immerse themselves in the artworks, discovering hidden details and engaging in a unique sensorial journey.

Recognized as a best practice in contemporary art, Atelier Montez revolutionizes the processes of artistic fruition to generate greater social inclusion through cutting-edge technologies. Under the leadership of its Artistic Director, Gio Montez, the Atelier has consistently promoted projects that bridge art and technology, fostering interdisciplinary experimentation and opening new pathways for international cultural cooperation. ARTup, the innovative start-up and spin-off of thirteen years of Atelier Montez research, is dedicated to the digitalization of art market processes.

Aligned with the cultural vision promoted by Ambassador Nathaniel G. Imperial, “Memorabilis: Interwoven Memories of Tomorrow between the Philippines and Italy” stands as both a landmark event for Rome’s cultural scene and a tangible act of solidarity with the Republic of the Philippines.