Art occupies The Link car park in Makati City as Art Fair Philippines presents 36 local exhibitors and 16 international galleries on Feb. 22-24.
Tickets are sold onsite at P350, valid from 10 a.m.-9-p.m.
Super scoured all five floors, and here are tips on how to make the most out of your Art Fair experience.
- Dive into TeamLab’s digital art (7/F)
“Gold Waves” show in a continuous loop the movement of waves in water “simulated in a computer-generated three-dimensional space,” while “Reversible Rotation” is a contemporary interpretation of traditional calligraphy in an abstract space.
Gajah Gallery of Singapore brought to Manila for the first time the Japanese collective of “ultratechnologists” known for the digital art museums “Borderless” in Tokyo” and “Future World” in Singapore.
- Observe ‘Boterismo’ (5/L)
“Botero in Asia” presents works by Columbian figurative artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. The capsule retrospective showcases voluptuous figures in rich color palette, which characterizes his distinct “Boterismo” style.
- Meet “Malang’s Women” (5/F)
Mauro Malang Santos’ son Soler Santos chose the works from the family’s private collection. The prints and drawings are done from the ’80s-’90s feature mothers, vendors and devotees. Such works made us wonder when Malang would be declared National Artist.
- See the Special Projects (5/F)
We suggest visiting this wing first. The Special Projects exhibit on the fifth floor feature David Medalla’s “A Stitch in Time”; Ray Albano’s “Step on the Sand and Make Footprints”; Liv Vinluan’s “Nung Gamabalain ’Yung Sayawan/The Disruption of A Dance”; Ryan Villamael’s “Behold A City”; Oscar “Oca” Villamiel’s “Cheap Medicine”; Ian Fabro’s “Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso”; Olivia d’Aboville’s “Everything, Everywhere, Everyone”; MM Yu’s “Subject/Object.”
- Stop by the Secret Fresh Ice Cream Shoppe (6/F)
Secret Fresh has an “ice cream” parlor that serves pop-art resin toys. There are 12 “flavors” to choose from, each representing the gallery’s artists. One can order from the menu, and claim the toy at the gallery.
- Take part in “Finding the Light”
Sculptor Daniel de la Cruz presents a haunting room focused on mental health. It is a dark space with pieces depicting forlorn figures encased in glass, symbolizing isolation and despair. Fairgoers walk through them, till they find a black-lit wall where they can write on neon sticky notes things they are grateful for. Materials on mental health groups are available at the exit.
- Attend art talks (5/F)
Feb. 22
“The Thinking Behind the Making,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m.—Artists Ryan Villamael, Oca Villamiel, Ian Fabro, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Olivia d’Aboville, MM Yu and Liv Vinluan discuss their creative process with professor Leo Abaya of the University of the Philippines as moderator.
“Tax 101: Taxes for Artists and Creatives,” 2-4 p.m.—A talk on taxes and intellectual property with legal consultants Anton Bengzon, Rommel Santiago, BJ Palattao
“Selfies and Celebrities: The Portrait from Van Gogh to Warhol,” 5-7 p.m.—Art historian and curator Dr. Kathryn Calley Galitz lectures on portraiture and signs copies of her book “The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Masterpiece Paintings” at the Art Bar
Feb. 23
“The Value of Pictures,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m.—A forum on the importance of Philippine photography with Jay Javier of Fotofabrik, Wawi Navarroza of Thousandfold, Rachel Rillo of Silverlens and professor Francis Fausto Tady of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Moderator is Katya Guerrero, LUZVIMINDA photography archive founder.
“Domènec Montserrat in Conversation with Carlomar Arcangel Daoana,” 2-4 p.m.—Spanish conceptual artist Domènec Montserrat tackles the effects of architecture on community life with critic Carlomar Arcangel Daoana.
“The Art of Fernando Botero,” 5-7 p.m.—Felipe Botero gives insights on the works of his grandfather Fernando Botero.
“Into the He(art) of the Art Market,” 7:30-9 p.m.—A parody performance on art auctions by Judy Freya Sibayan and Lyra Garcellano”
Feb. 24
“Drawing Insights,” 11 a.m.-1 p.m.—Professor Ma. Victoria Herrera elaborates on Mauro “Malang” Santos’ drawings
“Nonon Padilla and Judy Freya Sibayan in Conversation on the Art Practice of Ray Albano,” 2-4 p.m.
“A Conversation on David Medalla with Adam Nankervis, Purissima Benitez-Johannot and Daniel Kupferberg,” 5-7 p.m.
Art Fair Philippines runs from Feb. 22-24 at The Link Carpark, Makati City. Follow @artfairph on social media.