For artists, curators, and enthusiasts everywhere, creative Christmas is about to kick off next month with this year’s Art Fair Philippines. Celebrating the different faces of visual art, the 2020 Art Fair will showcase both the old and new names of the local scene, and simultaneously shock us with the best the art world has to offer. While this year’s attendees can expect past sections to make a comeback, look forward to some upgrades to your favorite parts alongside a selection of 2020’s latest offerings.

Launching for a three-day event on Feb. 21 to 23 at The Link carpark in Makati City, prep your Art Fair plans with some of the new (and the old) sections we’ll be lining up for.

New at #ArtFairPH

ArtFairPH/OpenStudios

For those looking for a more hands-on experience beyond art gazing, this year’s Art Fair is opening up ArtFairPH/OpenStudios with workshops from practitioners from every corner of arts and culture. Take a shot at photography with a two-day workshop helmed by Paco Guerrero; learn lighting techniques from photographers Neal Oshima and Mark Nicdao, and take a 101 course on wooden furniture with Benji Reyes.

Test out your skills in different visual art mediums with watercolor painting as taught by Claude Tayag, cyanotype with Alexis Oshima and Angela Silva, rubber cutting with the Association of Pinoyprintmakers, and sculptural planter-making with Rita Gudiño of Tahanan Pottery.

ArtFairPH/Film

In wake of the 100th year of Philippine cinema, Art Fair 2020 is introducing its very own Film section, curated by aficionados Erwin Romulo, Philbert Dy, and Teddy Co. Highlighting local cinema’s evolution in the last century, ArtFairPH/Film will screen a selection of the feature-length and short films, from narrative to experimental, and including documentary and animation.

ArtFairPH/Incubators

Art Fair is more than just the mainstream gallery format, as it now dabbles with different forms—enter ArtFairPH/Incubators, which will hold experimental spaces from various exhibitors like art/n23, Giatay, Limbo, Loadnadito projects, Project 20, and Signum. As curated by Sandra Palomar, art/n23 will showcase a virtual reality piece by Issay Rodriguez. If you wish to immerse yourself in art at far deeper levels (literally), consider diving into this simulation with an interactive beehive-like environment.

Upgraded classics

ArtFairPH/Projects

Jellyfish Kisses Art Fair Philippines 2020 — “Projects” artist Jellyfish Kisses

Previous sections are back for another run, but they come with some upgrades. Working with art consultant Norman Crisologo, ArtFairPH/Projects will feature new installations from renowned Filipino visual artists that are bound to stir your thoughts. A special exhibition from the late Onib Olmedo is one highlight of ArtFairPH/Projects, which will feature drawings that highlight Olmedo’s influence on artists today. Other artists mounting exhibits include Salvador Joel Alonday, Perry Argel, Jaime De Guzman, Roedil Joe Geraldo, Jellyfish Kisses, Gene Paul Martin, Neil Pasilan, and 2020 recipient of the Karen H. Montinola Selection, Carlo Villafuerte.

Art Fair 2020’s official timekeeper, Hublot, will also present new works by Rodel Tapaya, while art historian Carina Evangelista will work alongside Art Fair in bringing Sol Lewitt’s conceptual art and minimalist works to their exhibitions.

ArtFairPH/Talks

Best paired with the new ArtFairPH/OpenStudios, learn the know-how of the art scene through advice straight from the experts themselves. Speakers Elmer Borlongan and Allan Cosio will hold a panel on Filipino expressionist artist Onib Olmedo, while Italian ambassador to the Philippines Giorgio Guglielmino will take the stage to talk about his book “The Originals,” which lists out 30 artists that impacted the art world.

ArtFairPH/Photo

Art Fair Strange Fruit — Photo by Strange Fruit

The fine art of photography remains to be one of the event’s highlights, and the 2020 edition won’t run short of it. On this year’s spotlight is artist Poklong Anading, with other artists and groups including art/n23, bio | trans | forms, Denise Weldon | Tom Epperson Photographs, Luzviminda, Silverlens Photo, Strange Fruit, and Tarzeer Pictures.

The fair doesn’t stop at The Link, though—expect a series of activities around the Makati Central Business District with the 10 Days of Art initiative, with the participation of galleries, museums, and bars around the bustling city.

To top it all off, Art Fair Philippines is bringing about 61 exhibitors from both the local and international scene. Hyped yet? Book your tickets in advance at Art Fair Philippines’ website, or you can wait till the festivities itself—tickets will also be sold at the reception area from Feb. 21 to 23.

For more of the deets, check out Art Fair’s Instagram (@artfairph), or drop them a line on their Facebook.

Art by Renz Mart Reyes