“Justin Nuyda: Origin Story” paid homage to the life’s work of influential artist Justin Nuyda through a special exhibit and 10-course degustation at Hapag.
For two nights, the Nuyda Estate hosted a retrospective exhibit and a special 10-course degustation dinner featuring dishes inspired by contemporary artist Justin “Tiny” Nuyda. Entitled “Justin Nuyda: Origin Story,” the intimate event, which was held at Hapag in Rockwell, is a celebration of the artist’s 80th birth year, and the passions, collaborations, and friendships that helped shape one of the most important pillars of Philippine modern art.
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The month of September marks the birth month of the Filipino painter and lepidopterist. Nuyda was highly regarded in the art space for his contributions to development of modern art in the Philippines, his body of work spans over five decades. His creative journey was punctuated by friendships and close interactions with fellow artists, a parallel life devoted to the sciences, as well as culinary pursuits that birthed iconic concoctions like the potent Weng Weng cocktail.
His daughter Ayni Nuyda, founder and project director of Search Mindscape Foundation says: “This tribute is deeply personal for me. I wanted to pay tribute to his origins, highlighting what made him the person he was–both as an artist and as an individual. His personal experiences shaped his art, and that personal side of his journey is often overlooked.” In preparing for the celebration, Ayni was intentional about creating a sensorial experience that presented art outside of the usual gallery setting. She adds, “Throughout my father’s career, he had a willingness to explore different platforms for showcasing his work. I wanted this exhibit to be different, to challenge the way people engage with art by stimulating the five senses. At a time when art consumption has become increasingly transactional, I believe it’s important to offer something more experiential.”
The Exhibit: An Intimate Portrait of Justin Nuyda
“Justin Nuyda: Origin Story,” will be on display at Hapag throughout the month of September. The exhibit is curated by artist, writer, and Fotomoto founder Stephanie Frondoso, who writes: “The exhibit highlights a more personal nature of Justin Nuyda’s life and work. It centers around his close friendships and interactions with many artists, as evidenced by portraits sketches made during Saturday Group sessions.” Some of the portrait sketches that will be featured at the exhibit include works by Alfredo Roces, Mars Galang, Ben Cabrera, Romulo Olazo, Solomon Saprid, Romulo Galicano, and Ang Kiukok. Frondoso adds, “A special feature is a collaboration piece by 12 artists of the Saturday Group, in a rare form of mixed media in oil paints and metal.”
Nuyda, along with Alfredo Roces, founded the Saturday Group in 1968. His association with the elite group of artists paved the way for countless collaborations and close friendships with artists like Cesar Legazpi, H.R. Ocampo, Vicente Manansala, and Jose Joya. Together, they inspired intellectual exchange and artistic growth. The Saturday Group also played a key role in Nuyda’s early journey as an artist, beginning from his debut solo show to when Lee Aguinaldo acquired his first painting—and beyond.
“Justin Nuyda: Origin Story” will also feature early works from 1969-1971. Ayni recalls, “He was an intellectual who approached art with a clear vision and purpose. He knew exactly what he wanted to achieve and was extremely focused. His early works are testament to that. There is a precision and intentionality that reflects this strong sense of self.” Part of his identity as an artist, albeit unknown to most, was his dedication to the scientific field. As a lepidopterist, Nuyda contributed to the study of butterflies by identifying and illustrating over 100 species.
While it may appear that art and science are two polarized disciplines, they are, at their core, intrinsically interconnected. In Origin Story, a video piece reveals a side of Nuyda as equal parts scientist and artist. Frondoso explains, “Nuyda’s butterfly painting provides us a glimpse into his impassioned parallel practice as a lepidopterist.”
The Menu: Inspired by the Flavors of Bicol
The integration of food in Origin Story honors the nurturing and familial nature of Nuyda. For the artist, food was not only another means for expression; it was also a means for communion with family and like-minded kin. The dinner which will be held in his honor will begin with cocktails by Martell, featuring Nuyda’s classic potent, distinctly Filipino libation, the Weng Weng, concocted around the time the artist co-founded the Hobbit House in Malate.
Ayni says, “Growing up, we looked forward to his home-cooked meals. Cooking was something that he took great pride in. His friends remember him for his Bicolano dishes.” True to the collaborative spirit of Nuyda, the menu explores how Hapag’s chefs can re-imagine the culinary creations of the artist. The dishes included Tinuktok—a sour fish soup with fish ball and fresh tomato salsa; Kinilaw—blue marlin tossed in mango vinegar and spring onion oil with tropical fruits; Putok—Filipino bread with pili nut butter and lacto fermented jackfruit; and Pinangat—mixed shrimp, tinapa, coconut meat stewed in coconut milk and taro leaves. Main courses included Adobo sa asin, ginataang halaan, and pechay and mustasa salad; Baduya with cashew miso ice cream and caramelized banana mil; while dessert was Petit Fours of pili nut brittle, kababayan, inasinan na prutas, kakanin.
The collaboration inspired the Hapag team to reflect on culinary arts and the art of hospitality, says operations manager and sommelier Erin Ganuelas-Recto. In the days leading up to the dinners, the staff dedicated time to undergo art appreciation classed with both Ayni and Stephanie. “It was a blast,” recalls Erin. “It also allowed me to go back to what made me love hospitality in the first place, which is the art of service and the collaboration between food, beverage, and service.” The exhibit and dinner marked the first time that Hapag applied changes on their menu, and hosted an art exhibit to honor the life of an important figure in Philippine art.
Chef and Hapag partner Thirdy Dolarte shares: “Creating the Nuyda X Hapag menu deepened our understanding and appreciation of Justin Nuyda’s journey as a painter and passionate home cook. Hearing his stories through his daughter, Ayni, inspired Nav and me to interpret and execute the menu in a way that honors a father, artist, and devoted gourmand.”
Kevin Navoa, fellow chef and partner, discloses that as they developed the menu, the team drew from the passions of the artist. “We have changed some of the dishes through colors. For example, we made a course solely because of his love for butterflies and the environment, while meticulously making it look like a butterfly that landed on plants.” During the process, the chefs also engaged the staff, most of whom are Bicolano, to give their two cents on the re-imagined dishes from home.
Both chefs reflect: “Overall, this dinner was inspirational. The experience was challenging and enlightening, pushing us to explore Southern Luzon cuisine more than ever before. We dove into research, consulting with our Bicolano cooks and studying resources like Bryan Koh’s Milkier Pigs & Violet Gold. Our goal was to stay true to the essence of Bicolano cuisine and Nuyda’s signature dishes while presenting them through Hapag’s creative lens with the utmost care and respect.”
The idea to merge art with food was motivated by a desire to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Ayni furthers, “Food, much like art, has the power to evoke emotions and memories. Integrating food into this tribute speaks to his well-rounded character. He wasn’t just a great artist—he was a man of many passions, and this exhibit aims to honor that by engaging visitors in a way that transcends the visual, tapping into the emotional and sensory realms as well.”
The Origin Story: Collaboration, Connection, and Dialogue
Throughout his journey as an artist, Nuyda continuously fostered friendships, inspired meaningful collaborations, and nurtured the burgeoning of a Filipino creative community. Origin Story endeavored to portray this open-mindedness and boundless vision. “The pieces in this exhibit reflect my father’s deep value for relationships and collaboration. He always believed in surrounding himself with like-minded individuals, and working together without compromising his artistic vision. He valued dialogue and the exchange of ideas, and this collaborative spirit is something that I believe made him such an effective artist.”
The exhibit and the ethos behind it is a clear reflection of Search Mindscape Foundation’s mission. The non-profit organization is dedicated to fostering collaboration and supporting artists as they reach their fullest potential. Ayni closes: “By celebrating my father’s legacy, we hope to inspire a new generation of artists to explore their own creative freedom, to push boundaries, and to engage with others in meaningful ways. My father’s life touched so many, and it is this spirit of connection and shared creativity that we hope to extend through the foundation’s work.”
There are other initiatives in the pipeline for the foundation that honor the life of Nuyda. Ayni reveals that a museum retrospective is in the pipeline. The organization is also working towards the publication of a monograph, chronicling his life and works. They are currently documenting the artist’s butterfly specimens, which they intend to donate to the Smithsonian Institute. They are also working on creating a catalog raisonne of his paintings, offering free authentication services to encourage collectors to come forward with their pieces.
This October, Search Mindscape Foundation will be hosting the very first Immersive Art multi-sensorial art event. Anchored on the theme, “Of Echoes and Currents,” the creative festival will bring together photography, digital art, live painting, music, and interactive sculptural installations all within Green Sun’s 1000-square meter event space—and in one night.
Check out Search Mindscape Foundation @searchmindscape on Instagram.
Photos courtesy of Beyond Deadlines (unless specified).
