SM City Naga, home to the Chan Lim family’s remarkable artworks for almost three decades, recently rolled out the red carpet for the grand opening of the 46th Art Exhibit dubbed: “Blooming in Chinese Arts and Culture.”

The event took place at the mall's Activity Center on Saturday, June 24.

“Through the years, SM Supermalls and the Chan Family grew together, and I am proud that today, we are hosting the 46th Chan Lim Art Exhibit. Our sincerest thanks to the patriarch of the family, Mr. Chan Lim, and to Mr. Alex Lim, for always choosing SM to be your platform,“ SM City Naga Mall Manager Jeanette De Vera said as she welcomed Lim’s family, friends, and artists and members of the media.

The venue was filled with 398 paintings, depicting a fusion of traditional Chinese craftsmanship and Western influences.  The detailed brush lines etched in every fan, plate, and lanterns, tell tales of a deep love for nature as it evoked a sense of harmony and cultural richness.

It was created by 57 artists who showcased exceptional skill in bringing to life diverse subjects including landscapes, nature, flowers in its myriad shapes and forms, and animals that display power, elegance, and strength, among others.  

Through the expertise of talented artists who passionately expressed the enduring themes of Chinese and contemporary paintings on canvas, their artworks have flourished. Alex's engaging presence evoked a deeper appreciation for the artistic journey and the unique stories behind each masterpiece.

Alex Chan said that they’ve been to all major malls of SM, from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to promote their family's artworks.    

When asked why they choose SM as the venue for their artistic creations, Alex said that they have been patronizing arts for the longest time, and they experienced a very professional partnership with the said mall for over three decades now.

“It’s been a very professional partnership with the widest reach. So, why not continue it? And it was a very good partnership which [we hope] would last forever. The main focus is not to sell the artwork. The main focus is to share our artwork with most people. That’s also why we chose SM, kasi malaki ang reach eh. From A to D, kahit sino, pwede. The focus is not to sell, but to share this wonderful culture that we have,” Alex reiterated.

For Alex, “the most important thing is to share this culture. What we want to promote is the beauty of the painting. Ito yung unique. Ano ba meron dito na wala noon? It’s a combination of all na. How we used the colors, how we used the technique.”

The Chan Lim artists have gained recognition for their expertise in Asian-themed art and the traditional Chinese brush painting technique. With three generations actively engaged in the arts, they continue to explore various ways how to improve their craft and keep pace with the current digital era.  They look at different avenues, including contemporary methods like digital media and audio-visual creations.

Chan Lim, the patriarch of the family, began to delve into the world of art, utilizing oil and watercolor as his primary mediums. His artistic creations predominantly take form on canvas and paper.

First timer

Expressing her happiness and gratitude to be a part of the team, Nelia Macatangay-Cueto, a Batangas-based painter and one of the 57 artists who collaborated with the Chan Lim family to curate the event and personally witness the traveling expo, shared her excitement in a Facebook post.

Captioned “A trip of many firsts -  First time to set foot in Naga. First visit to 2 significant churches; Our Lady of Peñafrancia’s current residence and her former shrine. First immersion in ‘ingress’; all along my 4 earlier exhibit launches. , I thought the artwork display just magically pops up. Little did I know the hard work that comes in displaying each and every art piece (398) until I became part of the ‘ingress team,” Cueto expressed her gratefulness to the Chan family for giving her an “experience of a lifetime.” 

Cueto also lauded SM City Naga’s hospitality and how the management handled the event professionally.

De Vera said that SM values the culture and enjoins everyone to see the wonderful artworks that will be on display at the mall for 25 days.

Alex also extends his invitation to all artists and art lovers to immerse themselves in the display of vibrant colors, and creative pieces of paintings and witness the artistic wonders displayed at the SM City Naga.

“Please come to SM City Naga. It’s nice to be back after 7 years. We were here in 2016 and we’re very happy to be back again with more paintings, a bigger selection of artworks, more artists, and longer days. There are paintings that are selected na pag nakita mo, tumulo ang pawis namin sa kaka-painting nyan. It’s something coming from the heart  - to all the beautiful people of the city of Naga,” Alex said.  

The 4Chan Lim exhibit will have its second leg at SM City Daet in July, SM City Legazpi in August, and SM City Sorsogon for the month of September. (PIA 5/ Camarines Sur)