The eighth edition of Art Fair Philippines goes beyond celebrating the Filipino visual artist. ArtFairPH/Film is a new sub event featuring the best full-length and short films, narrative and experimental movies, documentary and animation to make local cinema more accessible to all.
Since it’s Valentine weekend, the “Unconfined Cinema” project kicked off with a public screening of “One More Chance,” the classic rom-com featuring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, who also did a live script reading of “That Thing Called Tadhana” at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.
The outdoor activity is a teaser for the Art Fair which will run Feb. 21-23, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., at The Link carpark in Makati City. Tickets are sold at P350 per day, available on the Art Fair website and at the venue. Aside from checking out multiple floors of art (go early!), here are other activities one can do at the Art Fair.
1. Attend workshops.
The Open Studios component features a lineup of workshops: photography with Paco Guerrero, lighting techniques for photographers with Neal Oshima and Mark Nicdao, wooden furniture-making with Benji Reyes, watercolor painting with Claude Tayag, cyanotype (photographic blueprint) with Alexis Oshima and Angela Silva, rubber cutting with the Association of Pinoyprintmakers, sculptural planter-making with Rita Gudiño of Tahanan Pottery.
2. Visit the Incubators
These are creative spaces outside the mainstream gallery format. “Doon (Over There)” is a virtual reality installation by Issay Rodriguez curated by Sandra Palomar where the audience can walk through a simulated beehive. Participating exhibitors are art/n23, Giatay, Limbo, Loadnadito projects, Project 20 and Signum.
3. Check out the Projects.
Art Fair Projects are special booths featuring collaborations with select artists. Highlight includes an exhibit of drawings by the late Onib Olmedo who was known for expressionistic figurative paintings and founding the Filipino Expressionist movement. Interactive works by Salvador Joel Alonday, Perry Argel, Jaime de Guzman, Roedil Joe Geraldo, Jellyfish Kisses, Gene Paul Martin, Neil Pasilan, Rodel Tapaya and Carlo Villafuerte will also be on view.
4. Attend the talks.
Ateneo Art Gallery and Museum Foundation of the Philippines will present a panel on Onib Olmedo with speakers Elmer Borlongan and Allan Cosio, to be moderated by Carlomar Daoana. Italian Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmino will discuss his art book “The Originals.”
5. Join a tour.
Slots are limited for the hourlong daily guided tour that starts at 11 a.m. Be mindful not to touch or get too near the artworks. Don’t bring bulky bags, and never use flash photography.
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