BPI Foundation takes BPI Art Collection online with first virtual exhibit

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of BPI, in partnership with the Ayala Museum, launched its first-ever virtual exhibit, BPI: Banking on the Arts, as part of the Bank’s 170th anniversary celebration this August.

“This museum-like virtual reality experience aims to create better arts awareness and appreciation, reinvent the way people see local art, and more importantly – help boost the Philippine art scene,” said BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo. “With the recent surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases and the reimposition of stricter lockdowns, allow us to bring this unique museum experience to you all, while you remain in the safety and comfort of your homes.”

With the help of Ayala Museum’s Curatorial Team led by Senior Curator and Head of Conservation Kenneth Esguerra, BPI: Banking on the Arts depicts BPI as a banking institution through six key virtues: celebration, tradition, relevance, resiliency, creativity and innovation, and growth. It features over 50 pieces from the BPI Art Collection, including works of Juan Luna, Justiniano Asuncion, Oscar Zalameda, Justin Nuyda, and Arturo Luz, among others.

“As we aspire to be at the forefront in championing Philippine art, rest assured that we at BPI group will continue to push for more meaningful activities like this to promote our cultural wealth and history as we continue our journey to banking excellence anchored on trust and the best digital offers,” said BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco.

Recognizing the vulnerability of our cultural sphere amid these challenging times, National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chairman Arsenio Lizaso said, “This virtual exhibit is an excellent opportunity to showcase our cultural heritage to the world. May these works of art and the access they provide to our cultural heritage continue to be a unifying force for the society as we move towards a stronger and more resilient future.”

The virtual exhibit is part of Yugto ng Sining, or Stages of Art program, which aims to preserve Filipino culture and heritage through awareness and appreciation of the arts. Under the program, BPI Foundation organized an art-making contest for BPI employees to recognize and amplify their artistic abilities and launched #KulturaSerye. This social media campaign features the life and works of various Filipino visual artists in the BPI Art Collection.

BPI: Banking on the Arts is available for public viewing online until September 24, 2021.

​​​​​​​Published in September 2021