The art scene remains as vibrant as ever as Art Fair Philippines brings together over 40 galleries and studios to showcase works from some of the country’s most respected names, up-and-coming artists, as well as maestros who have made their mark in Philippine art history.
A large swath of the Ayala Triangle Gardens was transformed into an immersive tented art exhibition venue where guests could roam around to explore the numerous art works on display.
Meanwhile, sections of the Ayala Garden Towers were also transformed into exhibit spaces. Lectures were also held at the Executive Center where subject experts discussed the different facets of art and the business behind it.
By having dedicated sections for insightful talks, film exhibitions, photography, digital art and for the exhibiting galleries and collectives, the Art Fair Philippines continues its commitment to bridge the gap between emerging and established artists, local talent and international audiences, and between art and those who experience it.
One of the biggest crowd drawers at this year’s art fair was Carlo Tanseco’s Sari-Sari Sabi-Sabi exhibit. The painted sculptures of familiar childhood snacks such as such as Cloud9, Chippy, White Rabbit, Chocnut and Nagaraya are given witty puns with inspiring and uplifting messages. The playful alterations transform these everyday items into vehicles for deeper reflection on identity, nostalgia, and the shared experiences that shape Filipino culture. In this exhibition, he reimagines these snack foods not just as objects of consumption but as cultural icons in their own right.
Another nostalgia-filled exhibit is KAKAKOMPYUTER MO YAN which was curated by Chia Amisola along with 20 other artists. The exhibition is displayed as a ‘neverending karaoke party’ presented in pisonet machines and living room videoke setups. These cozy environments recall times when our devices gathered us rather than isolated us—when technology was a communal experience, not one that isolated us from each other.
The exhibition speaks to multiple realities of the third world’s entanglement with the Internet: call center agents staffing the world’s customer service systems, content moderators filtering global traumas, overseas workers maintaining data centers, and communities finding connection despite digital divides. These artists transform these experiences into powerful statements about resistance, identity, and survival.
While many of the works showcased were contemporary art, there were also galleries and museums that displayed pieces from the masters of yesteryears.
Currently under renovation, the Lopez Museum and Library put on display select oil paintings by legendary painters Juan Luna, Fabian Dela Rosa, and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo — for Art Fair goers to see up close.
Meanwhile, Leon Gallery used the theory of six degrees of separation to interlink the lives of the movers and shakers of Filipino Modern Art. Here, works from Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ang Kiukok, Botong Francisco, Victorio Edades, Hernando Ocampo, and Anita Magsaysay-Ho are displayed with notes on how each artist are connected with each other.
The numerous works on display spanning different mediums and styles shows that the country’s art scene is as lively as ever. Collectors were also eager to acquire the pieces on display based on the number of works that were marked as sold as early as the second day of the fair. The growing interest of the international art community in Southeast Asian artists as a whole is also expected to bring in more foreign players into future Art Fairs.
