The Asian International Art Exhibition is an annual gathering of artists and curators from member Asian countries of the Federation of Asian Artists. These member countries include: China, Hongkong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Ayala Museum, in collaboration with the Philippine Committee Asian Artists Inc. presents the homecoming exhibition of Philippine works featured in the 22nd Asian International Art Exhibition that was held in Bandung, Indonesia in December 2007. It will open on February 8 at the Ground Floor Gallery of Ayala Museum.

For the exhibition in Indonesia, the Philippine committee members: Pandy Aviado, Bencab, National Artist for Painting; Susan Fetalvero-Roces, Ramon Orlina, and Sid Gomez Hildawa were joined by Abdul Mari Imao, National Artist for Sculpture; Ambie Abaño, president of the Printmakers Association of the Philippines; Popo San Pascual, Sam Penaso, and Kawayan de Guia in Bandung, Indonesia.

The theme for 2007 focused on Imagining Asia: Understanding Diversity in Asian Art. In the essay by Victoria Herrera for the exhibition catalogue, the works were described as "subtly tied together by qualities and concepts related to the notion of layered images and forms. In his book Visual Explanations (1997), graphic artist and art critic Edward Tufte describes how overlapping images can express an array of links and metaphors. In varying degrees, the 10 artists represented in this year’s Philippine contingent explore the creative potentials of layering images, either as process or as a metaphor for stored memories."

The annual gathering of contemporary Asian artists has provided a venue for international cooperation, networking, and enriched collaborations among artists, curators, art critics, and contemporary art practitioners. Through the years, the group has continued to foster these alliances for sustained goodwill and to promote contemporary Philippine art in the Asian region through the participation of several Filipino artists.

Conversations with Artists featuring National Artist for Visual Arts Bencab and glass sculptor, Ramon Orlina will be held at 3 p.m. on February 16. Bencab’s talk will be about his artist residency at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute. Orlina will share his experience when he visited the Nu Art Gallery in Indonesia. Admission fees entitle interested individuals to attend the talk.

The 22nd Asian International Art Exhibition will be on view until March 2. Ayala Museum is located at De la Rosa Street corner Makati Avenue, Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For more information, visit www.ayalamuseum.org.