Art Fair Philippines officially opened its doors to art enthusiasts and creatives on Feb. 21 at Ayala Triangle, Makati with extensions at the Ayala Towers 1 and 2. However, the vernissage night, on Feb. 20, gave guests a sneak peek into what the fair had to offer. 

Art Fair Philippines has long since established itself as the premier event that serves to showcase the diverse talent and creativity flourishing in the contemporary art scene. Featuring a total of 61 galleries, the event hopes to encourage the appreciation of art by highlighting the works of contemporary creatives coming from both the local art scene and those abroad. 

Exploring art through its artists 

Serving as an introduction to the diversity of the local art scene, Art Fair provides a platform for contemporary artists to showcase their talent and who they are through their works. 

In her interview with The Benildean, visual artist and ID115 Benildean Multimedia Arts Alumna Ms. Winna Go gave an in-depth look into her exhibited works, “My show is about portraying the different cultures of the Philippines,” she began. “My paintings are usually a reflection of my identity as a Chinese-Filipino, my experience in life.”

Similarly, visual artist Mr. Sid Natividad, who exhibited his works titled “A Tale of Two Seas” under Ysobel Art Gallery, shared how despite it being his third time exhibiting works for the fair, the initial excitement is still present. His works mainly focus on the duality of nature, highlighting themes of life and loss, bloom and decay, “[It’s a] commentary about ecological issues,” he explained.

When asked about how Art Fair and its impact on the local art scene, he explained how events like the fair provide opportunities for students to be inspired, drawing from his own experiences. “Nung student ako, pupunta ako dito para ma-inspire, para makapag-create ng work tsaka ‘yung message mo [as an artist] may contribution sa komunidad.” 

With a different perspective, Ms. Go shared her experience as an artist exhibiting for the fair, “Art Fair really puts you out there, because it opens you to a lot of audiences. Not just a specific art market, but also for [the] public.”

The premier event for local contemporary artists

Acting as both an introduction and platform for the local art scene, Art Fair is a testament to the talent of Filipino creatives. 

In his interview with The Benildean, Mr. Jeff Dayrid, an art collector, explained the impact of the event in promoting local art, “It's really the premier fair to introduce all the important artists to the community. [...] It's important for fairs like this to be attended by the art community. [...] And even people that haven't been immersed in buying, they need to also take a look so that at least they know what's out there.”

When asked about how Filipino culture is seen in local art he explains the role of artists as advocates for local culture “Bawat artist may baon ‘yan na personal experiences and kitang-kitang mo sa pag-execute nila ng works ‘yung pagka-Pinoy nila, because that's what they imbibe as younger people when they start executing their artworks.” He continued by explaining that, ”It's really the experiences of being Filipino that they bring to the table. [...] You see it’s more on the themes, [and] the subjects that they work on.”.

Focusing more on the role and importance of community in art, Ms. Candy Nagrampa, the projects and exhibitions director of the art gallery, Orange Project, shared in her interview with The Benildean how, “It isn't just about putting works out there, exhibiting. It's more on how we affect our audience [...] involve our audience, [and] how we also make it a collaborative effort.”

She continues by sharing how “I think what's uniquely different is if you have a community, because you have a community that pushes you [and] supports you. You have a community to go back to and reflect and ask, ‘How are we able to push it forward to actually help the artists?’”

A celebration of Filipino talent

More than just exhibiting the best of local contemporary art, the event ultimately celebrates the creativity and passion of each artist. The local art scene is vibrant with talented artists and creatives pushing the boundaries of what defines Filipino art. 

“Art Fair is a very big game changer in terms of the art scene, and they're very much involved in not just only being Manila-centric, but really thinking of artists from the region also outside of Manila,” Ms. Nagrampa shared when asked how Art Fair continues to promote local talents. 

When asked if she had any final messages for aspiring creatives, Ms. Nagrampa had this to say,

“I feel if you're a creative person, you should be a part of a community. One, it's very important to learn things, but also to unlearn things. In a community, you should be able to accept criticism very openly because then that helps us grow.”

“If you have a passion for art, feel free to just pursue it,” Ms. Go said, urging creatives to keep reaching for their dreams. In the same light, Mr. Natividad urged creatives to pave their own paths, “Wag kayo magpadala sa demand ng market, iplan niyo ng maayos ‘yung path ninyo kung gusto nyo mag-venture sa art.”

Missed out on Art Fair weekend? Catch news on any future events by following their Facebook and Instagram pages, or visit their website for more information.