The ALT Collective is set to present its most ambitious edition yet when ALT ART returns to Manila this February. Moving to the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay, the fourth iteration of this contemporary art showcase represents a significant leap in scale and ambition for the Philippine art scene. […]
Undeniably this generation’s best-selling artist, National Artist for Visual Arts Ben “BenCab” Cabrera has lent his work once more to a different type of canvas – Moooi carpets. His third and latest collaboration with the Dutch company led to a well-attended exhibit at The Peninsula Manila. Eight impressive large-scale tapestries bore his iconic characters Sabel and Isadora.
Abitare Internazionale, a family-run company distributing fine contemporary European furniture, collaborated with Bencab to reproduce his original artwork as tapestries made by Moooi Carpets. They also display the tapestries at their showroom, accessible by appointment for interested parties.
Moooi Carpets uses state-of-the-art technology to be able to transfer Bencab’s artwork onto their carpets. Martien Valentijn, CEO of Moooi Carpets, describes the special printer of enormous proportions to make this process possible. “The Chromojet printer is basically a 100 meter long printer that’s 4 meters wide. We print under high pressure. From left to right the printer is using 3,000 nozzles to print dots at exactly the right moment and spot.”
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The carpets used for the Bencab x Moooi collaboration are a low pile polyamide acrylic. It’s a material that’s naturally stain resistant and hard wearing. A close look at the carpets shows Bencab’s artwork printed in high-definition, with every stroke of the original conveyed precisely with accurate tones.
The largest artwork, entitled “Sette Movimenti”, shows a group of seven women in colorful, voluminous clothing. “Isidora’s Dance” also features seven women against cooler shades of blue. Each figure is dancing with graceful lines that are all interpreted with integrity onto the carpets. The “Madonna IV” – a mother wrapping a child in an embrace – is an impressive version with every small stroke reflected onto the tapestry. Bencab’s most well-known Sabel – a series he’s been painting since 1964 – is featured in a tryptych.
“When we started with Moooi Carpets and we discussed it with founder Marcel Wanders we saw [the carpet] as a canvas for designers for the design industry where they can do anything they want,” says Valentijn. “There’s no limitation in colors. Definition is much much higher now so you can print any photo or realistic design on the canvas. This enables designers to do anything they want, especially art.”
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These Bencab x Moooi carpets are a welcome addition to fans of Bencab or art collectors in general. “In 2015, Bencab’s “Sabel” fetched PHP 46.72 million at León Gallery’s Magnificent September Auction…” as per Abitare Internazionale, they have received directives from Bencab not to disclose detailed amounts of his work, especially from previous auctions. It’s no wonder why so many are jumping at this chance to add this limited series to their collection.
Read more: Fusing Old and New: National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera
The CWC Design Center (CDC), along with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philippines, hosted its Resilience by Design: Strengthening Cities, Buildings, & Communities event. The event invited Architect Eric Manuel of ARCH Capital, Architect Gelo Mañosa of Mañosa & Co., and Oliver Chan of Arthland as panelists. Aptly named, the event discussed how good design […]
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Situated in Cubao, Quezon City, MIRA by RLC Residences offers a warm and thoughtful environment for couples preparing for their next chapter. Driven by the idea of home beginning long before one starts a family, this community is built around comfort, community, and the everyday rhythms of family life. Family First MIRA offers compact and […]
On January 15, 2026, the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls opened its doors to take a bold step towards showcasing Filipino creative excellence. On that day, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., joined by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, led the official opening ceremony. Situated along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, its 8,000-square-meter […]
As Filipinos embrace the new year and the changes it brings, they are also bringing an introspective look into their living spaces. BluPrint offers a list of interior design trends suitable for the modern Filipino home. Modern Folk Modern folk blends traditional craftsmanship, cultural expressions, and natural materials with modern simplicity. This design style taps […]
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“I would like Flow to hopefully turn into a place where artists can come together, collaborate and create an overall experience,” says chef Kevin Uy. This desire of his is manifested in different ways throughout FLOW— a sleek, new restaurant he opened with his childhood friend, chef Gabriel Ong. Uy is full of ideas, fairly […]
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