By Art+ Magazine
August 18, 2024

National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BENCAB” Cabrera leads 25 renowned Filipino artists who have agreed to join The Pink Room, a fund-raiser to mark the 25th anniversary of breast cancer awareness advocacy group ICanServe Foundation.

Joining BENCAB are Gus Albor, Arce, Max Balatbat, Plet Bolipata, Elmer Borlongan, Jinggoy Buensuceso, Carlo Calma, Katrina Cuenca, RM De Leon, Daniel dela Cruz, Monica Delgado, Tracie Anglo Dizon, Christina Dy, Emmanuel Garibay, Toym Imao, Jose Santos III, Pam Yan Santos, Gerry Tan, Carlo Tanseco, Vien Valencia, Lydia Velasco, Ronald Ventura, Melissa Yeung Yap, and MM Yu. 

Using a Nike Air Force 1 (AF1) Triple White for a canvas, each artist offers a unique art piece to be auctioned on September 14 after a two-week exhibition. 

Product designer and sculptor Daniel dela Cruz says, “I believe in the cause that your (ICanServe) foundation is advocating.” Mixed media artist Max Balatbat shares that his mother is a cancer survivor, hence his support for cancer awareness advocacy. Dancer and visual artist Christina Dy credits an ICanServe ad promoting self-breast examination for the early detection of her own breast cancer in 2018. 

The Pink Room boldly merges art and fashion as a force for good. Proceeds of the Pink Room auction will enable ICanServe to fund treatments and medical procedures for breast cancer patients, launch high-impact health literacy campaigns, invest in the training of public health care workers on early detection, and create breast cancer control programs, to support its mission of saving lives.

All the sneakers will be on display at The Pink Room, which will be at The Estate Makati Lounge, Hall 3 of SMX Aura on September 1 and 2, open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and at then at L2, The Brittany Hotel, BGC from September 4 to 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

AF1 Sneaker enthusiasts and Filipino Contemporary Art collectors will surely find great value in the one-of-a-kind creations. Register at The Pink Room to join the auction on September 14.

In addition, every visitor to The Pink Room may choose to donate to ICanServe. Every minimum donation of Php500 shall be counted as a single raffle entry that gives the donor a chance to win one of two Art Shoes which will not be auctioned, but instead be offered for raffle. Artists Lilianna Manahan and Ciane Xavier donated the raffle prizes. 

ICanServe thanks The Pink Room Partners: SM Aura, The Estate Makati, The Brittany Hotel BGC, curator Carol Karthe, and Endo Lighting.