HOME OF PHILIPPINE AVANT-GARDE ART • THE PHILIPPINES' PREMIER MUSEUM OF EXPERIMENTAL ART •

HOME OF PHILIPPINE AVANT-GARDE ART • THE PHILIPPINES' PREMIER MUSEUM OF EXPERIMENTAL ART •

HISTORY:

The Legendary ART LAB

ART LAB is as a non-profit developmental art facility founded by Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco. Its legendary roots date back to 1990, and have since evolved into its current legacy as the Philippines’ premier museum of experimental art.

The name ART LAB is inspired by its core mission: to treat art as an ever-evolving experiment within a dynamic ‘laboratory’ of infinite possibilities.

Driven by a constant pursuit to seek the new, ART LAB blurs traditional artistic boundaries— fusing diverse disciplines and genres to pioneer new mediums, new directions, and new audiences for Philippine art.

Celebrated as the ‘Home of Philippine Avant-Garde Art’, ART LAB is a testament to the undeniable ingenuity of Filipinos to redefine self-expression— showcasing our nation's bold creative history and cultural heritage both locally, as well as on the global stage.


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Founders and Directors:
Cesare A.X. Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco

Museum Director and Chief Curator:
Maxine Syjuco

  • Cesare A.X. Syjuco - Founder and Director of Art Lab: The Syjuco Museum

    CESARE A.X. SYJUCO

    Founder and Director

  • Jean Marie Syjuco - Museum Co-founder and Director of Art Lab: The Syjuco Museum

    JEAN MARIE SYJUCO

    Co-founder and Director

  • Maxine Syjuco - Museum Director and Chief Curator of Art Lab: The Syjuco Museum

    MAXINE SYJUCO

    Museum Director and Chief Curator

The Art Lab Story:
A BRIEF HISTORY

[Condensed from ‘Two Minds, Many Madnesses: The Legendary Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco’ and ‘Masters of Mischief: Cesare A.X. Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco - Pioneers of the Avant-Garde’ by Maxine Syjuco]

The Legend of ART LAB: from Rising, to Returning, to Immortalizing

Pioneers of the Avant-Garde: Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco as the Legends Behind the Legend

Cesare A.X. Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco are legendary pioneers of the avant-garde. Throughout their decades-long careers, their names have remained synonymous with breaking boundaries for the advancement of Philippine art.

Working both individually and collectively, their contributions are monumental— from spearheading multi-media, transmedia, and performance art, to creating entirely new mediums of their own.

As leading vanguards of the experimental, their luminary influence leaves an indelible impact on contemporary art and the lens through which it is viewed today.

Radicals of a Brave New Era: Breaking Boundaries and Spearheading New Art Forms (1980s and 1990s)

During the 1980s, public engagement with local art was mediated almost entirely through commercial galleries and institutions. Such rigid environments often prioritized financial viability and marketability over individualism and creative freedom.

Deeply troubled by these limitations, Cesare and Jean Marie sought to challenge the status quo. Impassioned by a mission to push Philippine art to new heights, they remained independent of factions and restrictive schools of thought. On their own terms (and by their own merit), they reached the pinnacle of their fields— captivating the nation with their meteoric rise.

Cesare A.X. Syjuco became widely regarded as “The Golden Boy of Philippine Art” and “the country’s most feared art critic”. As a multi-awarded painter, poet, transmedia artist, and art critic, his remarkably varied distinctions during this period include:

  • TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines) Award for Art & Culture Advancement

  • The very first Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Award for Art Criticism

  • AAP Grand Prize and Gold Medal for Painting from the Art Association of the Philippines

  • Gawad CCP Sa Sining Biswal (Thirteen Artists Award) from the Cultural Center of the Philippines

  • Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature in English Poetry

  • UNESCO Paris Gold Medals for Photography and Design

  • CMMA Outstanding Filipino Communicator citation from the Catholic Mass Media Awards

  • Gerry Roxas Foundation Presidential Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts

A black-and-white photo of Cesare Syjuco who is the art world's notorious bad body and a TOYM (ten outstanding young men) awardee for art and culture advancement - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare Syjuco was the first recipient and awardee of the Purita Kalaw Ledesma Award for Art Criticism - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Photograph of a newspaper page featuring an artwork titled 'TANKA: Be Wary of Green, Be Most Wary of Memory' by Cesare Syjuco, the grand prize winner at the Art Association of the Philippines in 1982. The artwork is a mixed media piece. Below is a bl
A black and white newspaper article titled 'Cesare Syjuco receives CCP Thirteen Artists Award for magnum opus in mixed media artworks.' The top section shows two images: on the left, a collage-like artwork featuring a framed picture on a patterned ba
Cesare Syjuco - the most feared art critic in the Philippines - magazine and newspaper featured titled "Spotlight on Art Critics" - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A newspaper page featuring an article about artist Cesare Syjuco, with a black-and-white portrait of him. 3,000 postcards from himself to himself in his exhibit titled "Leaps of Faith" at the Cultural Center of the Philippines CCP. Syjuco Museum
A black-and-white newspaper page dated Thursday, August 20, 1992, featuring an article about Cesare Syjuco, with photographs of the artist, artworks - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A newspaper article about Cesare Syjuco featuring a black-and-white photo of him wearing sunglasses and a plaid shirt, seated with crossed arms, with a caption underneath. The Golden Boy of Philippine Art. Art Lab The Syjuco Museum

Simultaneously, Jean Marie Syjuco became a leading figure in painting, sculpture and installation art, as well as the Philippines' foremost exponent of performance art— bringing unprecedented attention and institutional support to the maverick art form.

Among her awards and distinctions during this period include:

  • Gawad CCP Sa Sining Biswal (Thirteen Artists Award) from the Cultural Center of the Philippines

  • AAP Grand Prize and Gold Medal for Sculpture from the Art Association of the Philippines

  • Grant to Australia (for her performance ‘Por Kilo: Mail Order Bride’, The Performance Space, Australia Cultural Center)

  • Grant to France (for her performance ‘Parangal sa Patalim [Homage to the Blade]’, Alliance Francaise de Manille, Artist in Residence)

  • Grant to Thailand (Philippine Representative, first Asean Artists' Creative Interaction)

  • Grant to Hawaii (Kayumanggi Presence ’93: Honolulu Academy of Art)

  • Cultural Center of the Philippines: Grant to showcase Performance Art on stage for the first time in history (for her performance ‘Puting Uwak [White Crow]’)

A black and white newspaper article from May 25, 1988, titled "Jean Marie Syjuco: Madly Magnificent," featuring the performance artist as the pioneer of performance art in the Philippines - Written by Rosalina Orosa - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A newspaper article reviewing performance artist Jean Marie Syjuco, the pioneer of performance art in Philippines. The article is titled "Jean Marie Syjuco: The girl of a thousand nuances of expression." Written by National Artist Leonor Goquingco.
A newspaper page showcasing artwork and a portrait of Jean Marie Syjuco, an award-winning multi-media artist, including sculptures and performance art pieces, with descriptions of the artwork and an image of Syjuco. Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A vintage newspaper page featuring an article about artist Jean Marie Syjuco with photos of her and her artwork, including performance art. The headline reads "Her art is radical and free form," and a smaller headline below discusses an art performan
Photograph of Jean Marie Syjuco’s performance art piece titled 'Modernity’s Goddess', featuring Jean Marie in her performance titled "Mano Mano" where she cut off all her hair. Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A black and white newspaper page from the Daily Globe dated Sunday, August 30, 1992, featuring performance artist, sculptor, painter and installation artist Jean Marie Syjuco. Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Newspaper article titled 'The wellspring of Jean Marie Syjuco's art' featuring the performance artist, painter, sculptor and installation artist at the height of her career. Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Jean Marie Syjuco pioneers performance art in the Philippine - article titled "Jean of Art" written by Jacinto Sotto - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum

A Legend Rises - The Revolutionary ART LAB in Makati (1990)

By 1990, amidst their skyrocketing success as cutting-edge visionaries, Cesare and Jean Marie fulfilled their lifelong dream by opening and developing ART LAB.

Located along EDSA in Makati, their vision was to establish an alternative art space in the heart of the city, offering a sanctuary for artists in search of respite from the humdrum of commercialism.

As a non-profit developmental art facility, ART LAB rapidly garnered a massive following and evolved into a vibrant hub for multi-media and literary workshops, radical collaborations, and international exhibitions that celebrated the avant-garde.

Art Lab: The Workshop / Gallery of Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco - the first and original poster from 1990 featuring the building along Edsa Makato Philippines - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Art legends and pioneers Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco - "The House of the Rising Avant-Garde" article and feature - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A newspaper article titled 'The ART Revolution of Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco' with a black-and-white photo of the couple seated on the floor of the original Art Lab in Edsa Makati Philippines - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco on the cover of Globe Guide Magazine for the opening of Art Lab in Edsa Makati Philippines in 1990 - Title "Art Lab: The Syjucos Newest Baby" - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco - pioneering avant-garde couple open lifelong dream with Art Lab - new center for experimental art and cultural advancement - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco "An Art Lab Story" written by Leonor Goquingco for The Philippine Star newspaper featuring their children Maxine, A.G. Michelline and Beatrix Syjuco - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco in an article titled "Artists' Resistance" written by Jeannie Javelosa for Art Lab - The Syjuco Museum
Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco founded the Art Lab Road Tour and The Wallless Gallery to bring art and artists to unconventional venues like schools, campuses, parks. Orville Tiamson, Sid Hildawa, Jose Jojo Legaspi, Joseph Alabana, Hermisanto
Cesare Syjuco, Jean Marie Syjuco and Jose Jojo Lesaspi in an article titled "Art Lab Goes International" - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A black and white newspaper page featuring an article titled 'An artistic orgy' with photographs of four individuals and captions: CRUZ: Situational act, ALBANO: Conceptual art, SYJUCO: Celebrating her 'freedom', LAZARO: Repeat performance, ALBOR & B
A newspaper article with a black-and-white photo of a woman in traditional attire, performing a dance with a bow and arrow. The headline discusses Jean Marie Syuco's art performance called 'Puting Uwak with actor Ronnie Lazaro Art Lab The Syjuco Mus
Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco bring 30 artists into big performance night for Art Lab. The image features a performance by Jean Marie Syjuco and Jose Jojo Legaspi - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco "Twin Souls: 25 Years of a Celebrated Partnership in Art" - the iconic and legendary avant-garde artist couple -Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Poster for Cesare Syjuco's art and exhibit titled "The Invisible Man in Pictures" (the table of zero) at Art Lab - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Poster advertising an art performance titled "Parangal Sa Patalim" by Jean Marie Syjuco, celebrating the French Revolution, hosted by Alliance Française Gallery at ART LAB, describing as a workshop/gallery of Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco. Museum
Jean Marie Syjuco poster for her art and exhibit titled "The Silent Factor" at Art Lab - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Poster titled 'Your dog Doochamp can sing Miss Saigon!', showing black-and-white photos of hands holding and examining a dog. The poster advertises an art exhibition by Cesare Syjuco called 'Leaps of Faith' from October 12 to November 17 at Bulwagang
Jean Marie Syjuco, Orville Tiamson, Hermisanto, Joseph Albana - poster for performance art 'Mano + Mano: The Bangkok Project' at the Thailand Cultural Centre in 1992, organized by ASEAN Artists Creative Interaction - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Black and white flyer for art exhibition titled 'My Life in the Resistance' featuring a photograph of a woman with messy hair partially covering her face, with her hand over her chest. The flyer lists artist names including Augusto Albor, Rock Drilon
Jean Marie Syjuco - Black and white promotional poster for an art performance titled 'Putting Uwak' on video, with detailed information about locations, dates, and sponsors at the bottom, including logos of CCP and Art Lab Syjuco Museum
Jean Marie Syjuco and Cesare Syjuco - The Intramuros Conspiracy - ALFRED yuson, SUSAN stair, JOSE legaspi, GEMINO abad, ROCK drilon, ALAN rivera, ERIC gamalinda, Rayvi sunico, JEANNIE javelosa, BUTCH dalisay, DANTON remoto, AMI misciano, etc
Cesare A.X. Syjuco - Art Lab Poster - Every Picture Tells a Story - They Burn in Hell - transmedia and multimedia narratives and art - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Art Lab at Museo Iloilo featuring Philippine art and performances with a black and white photograph of Cesare's handwriting- Cesare Syjuco, Jean Marie Syjuco, Jose LEGASPI, SID HILDAWA, tata Montilla, ami misciano, chito valenzuela - Syjuco Museum
Art Lab invitations, posters and postcards featuring Neil Roberts, Penguin Gallery Cafe Bar Malate, Jose Legaspi, Tata Montilla, Cesare Syjuco, Jean Marie Syjuco, Art Lab Hotline - Syjuco Museum

Meteoric Fame and the Heat of the Spotlight (Mid-1990s)

The incredible wave of awards, grants, exhibitions, collaborative events, and extraordinary triumphs continued for Cesare, Jean Marie and ART LAB. Together, their shared vision and tireless dedication transformed a bold artistic ‘laboratory’ into an unstoppable revolution.

Black and white collage of photos with text at the top discussing Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco, founders of Art Lab on winning multiple awards and traveling the world to promote Filipino art. The photos feature a man with glasses and a woman with cur
Cesare Syjuco and Jean Marie Syjuco: visionaries of groundbreaking art - photo includes Ronnie Lazaro - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum

As their fame and prominence reached unprecedented heights, however— so, too, did friction with an establishment disgruntled by their influence on breaking away from tradition.

The avant-garde couple's relentless dismantling of artistic norms earned them a reputation as dangerous radicals, and Cesare's cutthroat art criticism drew such virulent opposition that his very life was threatened by anonymous agitators seeking to silence him. It is also rumored that a fire was later ignited in the backroom gallery of ART LAB— resulting in the physical loss of many of Cesare and Jean Marie’s personal artworks, archives, and memorabilia.

Refusing to tolerate an increasingly toxic environment in the spotlight, the dynamic couple made a decisive— albeit mysterious— retreat from the public eye.

Choosing creative sanctuary over celebrity sensationalism, they disengaged from the mainstream and sheltered into a private realm to focus on their art; away from the noise, and amidst safer surroundings within which to raise their five children: Michelline, A.G., Beatrix, Maxine, and Julian.

Triumphant Comeback with ‘Literary Hybrids®’, The Electric Underground Collective, and Transmedia Mastery (2000s)

After a decade of retreat from the spotlight, Cesare and Jean Marie re-emerged into the art world— armed with new mediums, brave new visions, and bold new voices.

  • 2004: Cesare unveiled his major solo exhibition, Flashes of Genius, at the Main Gallery of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Curated by Jean Marie and long-time collaborator Sid Gomez Hildawa, the exhibit introduced Cesare’s iconic Literary Hybrids®— a fusion of visual art and poetry presented through lightboxes, text-object composites, neon, and site-specific installations. Critics unanimously hailed it as “a stunning comeback” and “a brilliant achievement for Philippine art!”.

Cesare A.X. Syjuco - Flashes of Genius Exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines CCP - portrait of the artist upside down - comeback exhibit features Cesare's literary hybrids (fusion of poetry and visual art) - curated by Jean Marie Syjuco
A newspaper article titled 'Textual Tension' by Sam L. Marcelo, with an image of a transparent wall displaying a nude figure with hands pressed against the glass, and a caption for an exhibit by Cesare A.X. Syjuco about poetry for walls and spaces ou
Article feature titled "Walls and words and arts: the text of Syjuco" - featuring Cesare A.X. Syjuco and his art of literary hybrids - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare Syjuco mounts major transmedia show at CCP - Flashes of Genius - literary hybrids art exhibit - curated by Jean Marie Syjuco and Sid Hildawa - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
"A Master's Homecoming" - newspaper feature on Cesare A.X. Syjuco and his comeback art exhibition featuring his Literary Hybrids (poems for walls) with neon, installations, etc. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines CCP Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Cesare A.X. Syjuco article feature written by Juaniyo Arcellana in The Philippine Star - showcases various posters mailed by Cesare from his Art in the Mail series - designed by Maxine Syjuco - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum

  • 2006: Cesare and Jean Marie formed The Electric Underground Collective— a congregation of multidisciplinary artists collaborating to bring experimental art, spoken word poetry, literature, music, and performance art to venues outside conventional constraints. The group toured locally and internationally from 2006 to 2012.

  • 2009: Cesare launched his CD-Album and Book-Set titled “A Sudden Rush of Genius” featuring his underground poetry fused with experimental music. The prizewinning “Hybrid Poems” in these recordings had previously appeared in various literary publications, art projects, exhibitions, and Cesare’s live poetry-performances from 1981 to 2008. Produced by his son, A.G. Syjuco, and designed by his daughter, Maxine Syjuco (along with graphic artist Mandy Cabral), the book was critically-acclaimed as “a twisted alterno/literary masterpiece… a huge and stunning achievement for OPM!”. It was awarded the National Book Awards by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) at the 29th National Book Awards.

During this period, Cesare was also honored with the prestigious Outstanding Manilan Award (a.k.a the Araw ng Maynila ‘Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan’ Award) for ‘New Art Forms’ from the city of Manila, as well as the La Sallian Achievement Award (for Art and Culture Innovation) from his alma mater.

Through their ingenious fusion of literature and text with visual and performative art, Cesare and Jean Marie solidified their legacy as true masters of transmedia, multi-media, performance and experimental art.

Cesare A.X. Syjuco - A Sudden Rush of Genius - CD Album and Book Launch - free downloads - spoken word poetry and music - poster designed by Maxine Syjuco - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
A promotional poster for an event titled 'Homage to the Pavement: Street Art, Spoken Word' hosted by Cesare & the Electric Underground Collective. It features a black and white photo of a person playing an electric guitar and a sculpture of a face on
Cesare Syjuco and The Electric Underground Collective performance art and poetry event at Ateneo Art Gallery. Poster designed by Maxine Syjuco - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Poster for a music event titled 'Raiders of the Lost Art' featuring Cesare with the live spoken word performances of several artists, including Maxine Sjuco, Ian Madrigal, Mitch Garcia, and others. The event is scheduled for October 27th, at Ricco-Re
Cesare Syjuco and the electric underground collective event of poetry and performance art in angono Rizal, atelier Orville tiamson - "a tree grows underground" - designed by Maxine Syjuco - Art Lab The Syjuco Museum
Pink poster promoting a live event featuring Cesare and The Electric Underground Collective on June 16th at 8 p.m. at Magnet Katipunan, with a background of electronic music equipment. Designed by Maxine Syjuco. Spoken Word poetry, performance art

A Legend Returns - The New ART LAB in Alabang (2013)

Devoted to persistently pushing the envelope and continuing their mission for the advancement of Philippine art, Cesare and Jean Marie re-opened ART LAB within their family compound in Ayala Alabang Village in 2013.

Standing on a combined studio and exhibition space eight times the size of its original site along Edsa, ART LAB: Atelier Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco remained committed to developing new directions, new mediums, and new audiences for Philippine art.

Celebrated Modern Masters of the Avant-Garde (2013 - 2020)

True to its form, the legend of ART LAB persevered and created more waves of change. Showcasing new works by Cesare, Jean Marie, and their children— now all adults and esteemed artists in their own respective fields— the environment celebrated avant-garde experimentation through the fusion of mediums.

Literary Hybrids and transmedia took center stage as light works, neon, vitrine boxes, mixed-media installations, audio/video and performance pieces merged with paintings and sculptures—creating a experiential environment unlike anything the Philippines had ever seen.

The Pandemic and Whispers of Cryptic Mysteries (2020)

In 2020, as the global pandemic brought the world to a sudden standstill, ART LAB temporarily closed its doors to the public. The bustling sanctuary of avant-garde experimentation grew quiet, transitioning from a vibrant public hub into a private enclave where the family continued their relentless, uninterrupted pursuit of creation behind closed gates.

Jean Marie was selected by the National Gallery Singapore as the Philippine representative for their historical exhibition, ‘See Me, See You: Early Video Installation of Southeast Asia’, which featured her groundbreaking piece from 1986. Titled ‘See Me, See You (Revenge of the Giraffe)’, the work is a multi-media masterpiece that fuses sculpture with painting, sound works, video, installation and performance (via audience participation).

Meanwhile, in keeping with his tradition of "Art in the Mail" (begun in the 1970s by sending posters and postcards to various audiences), Cesare mailed over a thousand copies of his latest poster titled "CESARE 2.0." The cryptic and controversial subtext read: “Rumors of his recent demise have been grossly exaggerated. So eat shit and die, motherfuckers. The Ultra-New CESARE Version 2.0 is alive, and well, and badder than hell.”

Designed by his daughter, Maxine, the poster featured a cartoonized portrait of Cesare as Superman, armed with an electric guitar, a paintbrush, and an amputated leg.

This remains the last correspondence the world has received from the Syjucos before the pandemic drew to a close.

A Legend Immortalized - ART LAB: The Syjuco Museum (2027 / 2028)

Rising from the stillness of the decade, a new chapter dawns for the Syjuco family's monumental legacy with the opening of ART LAB: The Syjuco Museum slated for 2027 to 2028.

Proudly standing as the ‘Home of Philippine Avant-Garde Art’ and the country’s premier museum of experimental art, this newly envisioned institution is directed by their youngest daughter, the esteemed artist and poet Maxine Syjuco.

The museum stands as both a sanctuary to the avant-garde and a living testament to a family that redefines Philippine contemporary art.

Housing decades of groundbreaking works, archives, and transmedia artifacts, the museum ensures that the seminal brilliance of Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco continues to challenge, inspire, and provoke generations to come.

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COMING SOON: ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, HISTORICAL REFERENCES, AND COLLATED CITATIONS IN ‘APA’ FORMAT