Silverlens opens a gallery space in New York
This expansion was necessitated by the growth of the gallery’s programme and the drive to bring a broader representation of Southeast Asian, Asian Pacific, and Diasporic artists into the wider framework of the contemporary art dialogue.
Silverlens Gallery, based in Manila, was founded in 2004 by Isa Lorenzo. She was joined as co-director by Rachel Rillo in 2007. Since its inception it has developed into a heavy hitter in the Southeast Asian art scene representing artists that speak to the localities of the Philippines as well as across Asia and its Diaspora. In July 2022 Silverlens announced its first transcontinental expansion, opening a gallery in Chelsea, New York. This move articulates Lorenzo and Rillo’s vision to accelerate a broader representation of Southeast Asian artists in the United States. The space opened on 8 September with exhibitions by artists Martha Atienza and Yee I-Lann
SOUTH SOUTH interviewed Lorenzo to find out more about the vision for their new space.
Silverlens New York
Installation view of the inaugural exhibition at Silverlens New York with Martha Atienza and Yee I-Lann
SOUTH SOUTH (SS): What motivated the desire to have a gallery space in New York? What about the art scene in the city and in the region it is situated in do you find most appealing?
Isa Lorenzo (IL): I have always loved New York. I did my masters there (MA Media Studies, The New School) before heading back to Manila in 2004. New York is undoubtedly a global art centre. Other factors: the interest we had been receiving from curators and collectors from the States over the pandemic, and our social media and website analytics showing that 30% of our viewers were coming from the States from 2020-21. We also realized that there is space carved out by difficult social issues (Black Lives Matter, #metoo, Asian hate) for minorities like us (Asian America, Latin Asian, Diasporic). All these put together felt like it was the right time to grow our audience in the States.
SS: What do you see as the vision for the New York gallery?
IL: Exhibitions that bring new artists to the States, but who are already known in Asia and Europe. We would like to be a bridge between the Philippines / Southeast Asia and the States. A space of dialogue and inclusion for artists of the Asian American descent, and the larger Diaspora.
THE TUKAD KAD SEQUENCE #02 by Yee I-Lann on view at Silverlens New York’s inaugural exhibition
SS: How will this addition in New York contribute to building your approach to artist representation and curatorial practice?
IL: I am certain that many artists who identify with us and our program will come out of the woodwork. And we can’t wait to meet them!
SS: Martha Atienza’s The Protectors and Yee I-Lann’s At the Roof of the Mouth were the first exhibitions to be shown in the new space. Could you share more about the choice to have these artists and their work open the gallery?
IL: Both artists work deeply with their communities in the islands they live in. Martha Atienza lives in Bantayan Island in the Visayan Sea, central Philippines; Yee I-Lann lives in Kota Kinabalu in the Sabahan area of Borneo. They both tackle global issues such as the climate crisis and circular economies, among others, in their practices. Both use the process of making art as tools for social change. Martha and I-Lann show how art is made under the most difficult of circumstances. They represent the artists we work with, and are great ambassadors for where we come from. Plus they make really beautiful work.
Measuring Project by Yee I-Lann on view at Silverlens New York’s inaugural exhibition
Installation view of the inaugural exhibition at Silverlens New York with Martha Atienza and Yee I-Lann
Adlaw sa mga Mananagat (Fisher folks Day) by Martha Atienza on view at Silverlens New York’s inaugural exhibition