Art Fair Philippines turned spaces into colorful collages of different artwork and artists with their contemporary art exhibits and projects from Feb. 21 to 23 at the Ayala Triangle. After a long run of hosting at The Link, this year brought with it a new experience, opening public exhibits not only in Ayala Triangle but all over Makati. With their 10 Days of Art initiative, alongside other public art installations and events from Feb. 13 to 23, art went beyond the frame.
Art Fair’s doors opened to the public, serving as both a space for artists to showcase and sell their work and a place for attendees to appreciate art. Aside from this, there were talks and film screenings people can enjoy. Their 10 Days of Art initiative featured public art events and installations, among them were statues by Briccio Santos and photography exhibitions by Fotomoto.
Creativity in every corner
Ms. Maria Purezca, an artist under Pinto Museum’s exhibit, talked about the relevance the fair has not only for artists but attendees as well, “It plays a very important role [...], it inspires. The younger people get to recognize that art is really something that is part of our Philippines, of our country's culture. Art is alive in the country. It's a very big industry, actually.”
Her whimsical approach to painting is one of the many styles one would find while strolling through the galleries at the Ayala One Tower, housing visual arts, sculptures, and other mixed media. It’s not just paintings, however, as Ayala Tower Two featured exhibits that invited the attendee to interact with the art pieces.
Clar Ramirez, an ID121 Creative Industries Management (CIM) graduate and Art Fair intern, shared her favorite exhibit, “[It] would be KAKAKOMPYUTER MO YAN!, which is an internet exhibition curated by artist and designer Chia Amisola. It's about internet culture in the Philippines, and how it can become a platform also for artists.” The exhibit allowed attendees to browse through the different artists’ works on a website installed in Pisonet computers and karaoke machines, mirroring the Filipino experience of being on the internet.
Another notable exhibit was “Pagbulong” by Ms. Jezzel Wee. Inspired by her artist residency at Japan, they localized the daruma, making it a wishing doll. Exhibit volunteer and ID121 CIM student Angelinno Jucutan talked about what made Jezzel’s art installment stand out, “The usual standard operating procedure is that you just admire the art, [...] step away three feet from the canvas, and you try to disseminate what it's about. But this one, you're part of the piece [...] it's almost like a performance piece, where you're part of the artwork.”
Art within a shared space
Aside from the various galleries and exhibitions, Art Fair served as a platform for conversation surrounding art, not just leaving it at consumption but giving room for deeper analysis and meaning through discussions. The talk “Grappling Realities: A conversation with Manny Garibay and Manuel Ocampo,” took place on the first day of the event, where the two artists discussed their work and engaged with the audience.
In an interview with The Benildean, visual artist Mr. Manny Garibay mentioned how he explored different mediums, “It varies–sometimes I paint, sometimes I draw, sometimes I break things, [...] it's all about finding the fun in doing things that somehow might have some possibilities in terms of generating meaning.” His exhibit, Dambana: A Critical Reflection on Belief, Power, and Memory, was part of ArtFairPH/Projects.
Attendees could opt to join guided tours around the fair, having that structure and insight they couldn’t get elsewhere, gathering with other fellow art enthusiasts. Ramirez mentioned the joys of being a tour guide: “Art Fair gives you the freedom to explore it on your own. But it's a really nice aspect of The Fair that they still offer guided tours because you see that there's still interest that people know more about the exhibitions and spaces.”
For profit, or for the public?
Even as Art Fair Philippines evolves and changes, it can still be seen as an exclusive event, with the prevailing notion that art is only enjoyed by those in the middle to upper class.
For Mr. Garibay, there’s layers that come with the event, “I'm kind of ambivalent about that, you know. You say on one hand, It helps [...] creates value in the art, in terms of the monetary [value]. But there's also the side where it becomes a spectacle, where art is somehow able to remove the possibility of serious and meaningful discourse on a societal level,” he mentioned the reality wherein the artists do have to sell their work.
While the ticket price may seem steep for some, it is not without its reason, “The price of the ticket is understandable, because we are renting this big space, and it costs a lot to put up the shipping of the artworks. The logistics cost a lot. And we pay also people, employees. So everything has its cost,” Ms. Purezca said, explaining what goes behind the payment.
There are available discounts for students, PWDs, and senior citizens, as well as public art installations and exhibits around Makati open to the public, bringing art closer to the masses. “Art Fair Philippines makes an effort to have these free exhibitions, so [...] I feel like Art Fair is doing good in terms of accessibility because it continuously shows effort in making it accessible to others,” Ramirez mentioned.
Painting your own canvas
Art Fair Philippines can mean different things for artists and attendees alike, but there’s no denying the vibrant, ever growing community surrounding art in the Philippines. It’s not just a hobby, but art can be a platform for change or a career that brings fulfillment.
“You always hear the stereotype now, like your parents saying that there's no money in the arts. There's very much money in the arts. There's so much culture around the arts. And it's really nice to see that there's [people] going to art events,” Jucutan said when talking about the importance of the event in the Philippines.
Beyond the financial aspect, the passion to create is personal for artist, with each having their own unique style, process and journey. When asked for advice to aspiring artists, Garibay advised, “As long as you enjoy it, the only thing that can happen is for you to become better,” highlighting how art is a continuing process.
To learn more about Art Fair Philippines, check out their official website or their Facebook and Instagram pages.
