One of the biggest and most anticipated art events in the country opens its doors to the public today. Here’s a quick guide to what you can see over five floors of art extravaganza.
Art Fair Philippines is upon us once more. Launched in 2013, it is one of the most well-attended shows for collectors and enthusiasts, exhibiting and selling the best in contemporary Philippine visual art. Held at The Link parking building space in Ayala Center, it has made art accessible to a bigger audience.
This year’s edition is spread over five floors, and features the likes of Neal Oshima, Daniel Dela Cruz, Ian Fabro, MM Yu, Mauro Malang Santos, Ray Albano, and David Medalla as well as galleries such as Blanc, Silverlens, Eskinita, Artinformal, Galerie Stephanie, and Art Verite with food and drink offerings woven into the different zones.
The fair begins on the fourth floor. Beside the entrance is the reception and bag deposit leading up to exhibits by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Fundacion Sanso, and Vibal Foundation as well as presentation from partners such as Globe Platinum and food and drink points like LTD Café and Don Papa. You may also find the Art Fair store here, selling merch made by different artists like Raffy Napay, Everywhereweshoot, and Luis Santos.
The fifth floor houses a lot of the featured artists. We highly recommend checking out David Medalla near the center as well as Fernando Botero and MM Yu who are at one corner. You can see part of the Ray Albano show when you turn your back from Medalla’s “Stitch in Time.” Next to Albano are the spaces dedicated to young artists Liv Vinluan and Ryan Villamael. Across them, Ling Quisumbing’s library made of wooden blocks, Malang’s paintings, and Ian Fabro’s macabre triptych line a wall, prominently.
Galleries dominate the 6th floor led by our favorite Blanc, which is in a middle enclave beside Vinyl on Vinyl, and Finale. At the other side of the room, Pinto Art, Ysobel, Kobayashi, Art Verite and Vin line up one of the walls. Silverlens is near setups by Art Bar and Toby’s Estate.
More galleries appear on the 7th floor. You should pay a visit to Booth 40, which is Art Cube’s exhibit centered around Daniel dela Cruz’s work that shines a light on mental health. A few lengths away is Archivo 1984, in between Shukado and Nunu Fine Art. Across Art Cube is Artinformal, Eskinita Art Gallery, and Canvas looming over Galleria Duemila, Taksu, and Yayuz Gallery and The Crucible Gallery.
Visitors can take quick breaks—whether at the smoking area or at the Roofdeck Café—at the topmost floor, a spacious area where you can mingle and discuss the wonderful art you just browsed through or the major damage you did to your bank account.
Art Fair Philippines runs until February 24, Sunday at The Link, Ayala Center Makati. For more information, visit https://artfairphilippines.com/
