Now in its tenth year, Art Fair Philippines is back at The Link Ayala Center Makati from February 17 to 19, 2023. The fair will host 63 exhibitors from the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Open from 10 am to 9 pm, the fair will once again welcome visitors from its entrances at Parkway Drive or from the Bridgeway on the 3rd floor of Landmark.

You can buy your tickets on-site or early at artfairphilippines.com at P450 for a day pass, P350 for students, senior citizens, and PWDs, or P200 for Makati students with a valid ID.

From a typical grid to a new way of seeing

The several-story fair will elevate your multi-sensory experience with a fresh “biophilic” design by architect Andy Locsin. The venue’s new layout will play with patterns in the space and bring the experience of nature closer to guests. 

Keep an eye out for certain areas of the fair that will use renewable bamboo materials engineered by the Cagayan de Oro-based company Rizome.

Go deeper into the digital realm

After the success of the metaverse-based Art Fair PH in 2021, this latest edition continues to experiment with the new direction of disruption. Going deeper into the digital realm, the fair will hold special exhibits curated by CryptoArtPH artists Bjorn Calleja and Jopet Arias. 

World-renowned Filipino digital artists such as Melbourne-based artist Mark Inducil will exhibit “Homecoming”, while Skye Nicolas, who currently lives and works in New York, will present “Frequencies of Nostalgia”.

Digital Video Work, Mark Inducil “Epiphany”

Expect a stellar presentation at the AFP/Projects Section

Curator Noman Crisologo has been changing the art game in recent years. 

Make your way up to The Link’s Roof Deck to experience the special exhibits curated by Crisologo, featuring a slew of talented artists including Faye Abantao, Kiko Escora, Mark Andy Garcia, Raymond Guevarra, Pow Martinez, Yeo Kaa, and Peter Zimmerman. 

Treat yourself to visual film and photography

This year’s Film section program will be curated by the Ateneo Art Gallery. Be sure to catch “Alternative Cinema: History, Theory and Practice”, by renowned filmmaker and film historian Nick Deocampo. 

Photographer Wawi Navarroza, known for her striking self-portraits in colorful tableaus, will also be exhibiting “As Wild As We Come” which was featured at the National Gallery of Singapore.

Tributes

The art world recently lost two figures known for their ground-breaking work in Philippine art. The fair will pay tribute to gallerists Norma Liongoren of Liongoren Gallery and Albert Avellana of Avellana Art Gallery in what promises to be a moving homage.

Sit-in the Talks and Workshops

We’re starting to see how fairs have transformed from more than just a commercial exchange of art to an exchange of ideas. 

Be sure to check out these talks on the fair weekend: 

Feb 17, Friday

1:00 -2:30 PM Landscapes, Mindscapes & Inscapes: In the works of Faye Abantao, Mark Andy Garcia, and Raymond Guevarra, the real and imaginary meld together to construct new terrains

5:00-6:30 PM Recipients of the 2022 Artist Residency Grant

Feb 18, Saturday

01:00 PM – 02:30 PM Mortal Wanderings: Kiko Escora, Pow Martinez, and Yeo Kaa imagine and re-imagine the human body as a persona or a metaphor for society

03:00 – 04:30 PM Tonalities of Voices from the Regions

Feb 19, Sunday

03:00 – 04:30 PM Artist Talk: Indonesian artist Yunizar

If you’re interested in learning more about Web 3 and NFTs, sign up for the “Workshops” on the fair’s site as well.

Where to Eat Within the Fair

Walking around the fair can be an exhausting experience with the influx of color, movement, and conversation. You can take a break from the dizzying crowds with your refreshment of choice.

Head up to the roof deck to munch on fine Japanese delights from the Art Fair’s regular restaurateur Kai. Or take your pick and energize yourself with a cup of coffee from Toby’s Estate or a libation from Special Project Partner Don Papa Rum.

Experience 10 Days of Art

Due to the less lenient protocols last 2022, Art Fair PH held an outdoor fair in the Ayala Triangle Gardens, while galleries held off-site exhibitions in their own spaces. After the success of last year’s hybrid presentation, Art Fair Philippines is bringing it back with their “Gallery Weekend”! 

You can check out their lineup of galleries exhibiting in their own locations on www.10daysofart.com

Keep posted to find out more of the visual treats at Art Fair Philippines coming up with this year’s art month!