While the Covid-19 pandemic posed economic and patronage challenges in many sectors, particularly in the entertainment and art industries, it also brought out ideas that not only offer aesthetics but charity work as well.
Pharmaceuticals CEO Melissa Yeung Yap proudly showcase the Katinko Artbox, which aims to help local artists
Such is the aim of the Katinko Artbox, where artists of unquestionable caliber agreed to share their works as ornament on the cover side of a 7.5” x 10.5” wooden box containing eight products — balm, ointment, inhaler, spray, stick, alcohol and air roller — of the pharmaceutical brand.
One of the featured artists is abstract expressionist Kenneth John Montegrande who has two paintings adorning the boxes.
While the project is “dedicated to promoting artists’ masterpieces and helping them reach a wider audience by sharing their art online,” and the proceeds are partly allocated to the artists for them to tide over the health crisis, Montegrande has vowed to use his P500 share per box (each box costs P1,500) for charitable purposes.
of ManilArt 2020
He and Greenstone Pharmaceuticals (maker of Katinko) CEO Melissa Yeung Yap were just thinking of donating to the affected families of Typhoon Rolly in Bicol but Typhoon Ulysses struck Metro Manila and many other parts of Luzon less than a week later.
Montegrande did not have to wait for sales to come in. He immediately gathered his resources and distributed clean drinking water in four-liter containers to people in Marikina, Rodriguez, Bulacan, Muntinlupa, Nueva Ecija, Bicol and Tuguegarao. He did similar act to the people of Batangas when Taal Vocano erupted in January.
“The lockdown brought immeasurable blessings to me, despite the closure of one of my businesses, since it gave me the time to do more work. This Katinko project is special since people will get a chance to own copies of [our] authentic art, complete with signature and certificate of authenticity,” he said.
Montegrande joined ManilArt 2020 held from December 9 to 13 at SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier in Taguig, and gladly shared that his works on display were sold-out on the first day of the exhibit.
He also holds the distinction as the first Southeast Asian artist whose works have become part Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa’s collection and the youngest artist whose work is included in the Malacañang Palace collection.
Looking forward, Montegrande will have a two-man show together with master Juvenal Sanso in March under the auspices of Galerie Joaquin and Fundacion Sanso, followed by a solo exhibit at The Podium Art Lounge in July and Altro Mondo Gallery in November.
For her part, Yap, who is also an artist with works featured in the Katinko Artbox, disclosed that the brand has been supporting a lot of art therapy workshops through the years. They were in Leyte after Typhoon Yolanda devastated the province, and in Marawi City after the siege, giving art workshops to children.
While Katinko gives relief to physical pain, art provides inner therapy, she said, and amid this health crisis, they want art to continue to thrive.
The project also features the works of Roy Espinosa, Francis Nacion, Kublai Millan, Emmanuel Sia, Ariosto Dale Bagtas, Carlo Ongchangco, Rishab Tibon and Dennis Sigua and Juvenal Sanso.