For Durianburg’s Chinese-Filipino community, the end of Kadayawan usually signals the start of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Celebrated by Chinese people worldwide, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the second biggest holiday in China and is a time for families and friends to come together in reunions over a good meal, mooncakes and a rowdy game of dice.
Last August 26 saw the opening of the Chan Lim Family of Artists’ exhibit at SM Lanang Premier. Already an annual event at the mall since 2013, the exhibit features 235 Chinese and Western-style paintings by the Chan Lim Family and their students.
“We love exhibiting here in Davao because Davao is closest to our heats,” shared Alex Chan Lim during the press conference at SM City Davao on August 25. “It is in Davao where we introduced many ‘firsts’, from painted lanterns, painted ceramic plates, the first painting contest and, this year, the first simultaneous exhibit in two SM malls in one city.”
This year, the Chan Lim Family of Artists, yet again, introduced a new first with their painted porcelain taels. Taels are old Chinese coins with a hole in the middle for people to tie them together with cord. In modern times, taels signify prosperity and good fortune. Since it is a three dimensional artwork, visitors to the exhibit can admire both sides of pieces and see how the artists portrays both sides of the “coin”.
“Everything was home-made. My brother made the porcelain taels. From conception to exhibition, the process took two years. One year to test and fabricate the taels and another year for the family and students to complete the paintings,” said Alex.
Much like the Mid-Autumn Festival, the exhibit is like a family reunion with everyone pitching in. From the initial concept of the exhibit, the creation of the artwork, to the setting up of the exhibition space, the family is involved in every aspect and in the end, the exhibited artwork is never put on sale.
When asked why they spend the time, effort and money to put up an exhibit and not think of the financial aspect of it. Alex replied “The exhibits we hold are a work of love, because we want to have a venue for our father to keep on painting as well as to give back to the community.”
And much like families coming together for the Mid-Autumn feast the Chan Lim exhibit serves as a venue for people and ideas to come together. “The exhibit is about sharing our talents and innovation, connecting with people, and having fun while at it,” Alex added.
The Chan Lim Mid-Autumn Art Festival at SM Lanang Premier and SM City Davao will run until the 15th of September 2018.
