The art world and art collecting is seen by many to be a very exclusive community where moneyed individuals spend hours appreciating pieces in hushed tones. However, art is meant to be enjoyed by all. The upcoming Art in the Park exhibit aims to do this by showcasing works done by Filipino artists for a more diverse audience.
On March 23, the Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati City will be transformed into an art haven free and open to the public. This year, 61 exhibitors representing galleries, collectives, art schools and independent art spaces will be showcasing new works to an audience that spans all demographics.
“The Art in the Park is for everyone. We get the hardcore collectors who will be there early in the morning to be first to buy the artworks on display. And then throughout the day, we’ll see people visiting, from art aficionados, to those living in the area who are curious about what is happening,” Art in the Park co-founder Trickie Lopa said.
Due to its more casual atmosphere, many participating artists and exhibitors present more adventurous works and include new names in their collections.
“There are always new artists to be discovered in Art in the Park. I would say that throughout the years, the artists we discovered turned out to become major names in the Philippine art scene,” Lopa said.
In keeping with the more relaxed theme of the exhibition, the prices for the artworks for sale are also capped at P70,000. This is meant to show art enthusiasts that collecting pieces does not require emptying out their bank accounts.
While Art in the Park is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, the organizers also brought in big names in the art scene as featured artists. For this year, multimedia visual artist TRNZ, designer and artist Carlo Tanseco, and contemporary mixed-media artist AR Manalo will be showing their works.
For Manalo, being featured artist for Art in the Park is a full circle moment. “My career really started with Art in the Park when I first joined the fair way back when. For me, this exhibit is my way of giving back and thanking Art in the Park for the opportunities that opened up for me,” he said.
His exhibit titled “Princess in the Park” takes inspiration from his three-year-old daughter who likes the outdoors and playing in parks. Using cutout from vintage book illustrations and modern materials, his 3-dimensional collages invite viewers to rediscover their childlike wonder and the feeling of adventure when looking at an unknown place.
Meanwhile, Carlo Tanseco, whose Sari-Sari Sabi-Sabi was one of the crowd favorites in the recently-concluded Art Fair will be reintroducing a piece from its critically-acclaimed Rizal Matchbox series. This will be the first time in 2 years that a piece in this collection will be shown to the public.
