Art Fair Philippines 2023: Everything You Need to Know About this Year’s Premier Art Fair
After going hybrid due to the pandemic, Art Fair Philippines is finally returning onsite this year, transforming The Link car park in Makati City once more into a multi-level art exhibition venue for the country’s premier art fair which will run from February 17 to 19, 2023.
A biophilic design for its venue
This year, as the Art Fair Philippines celebrates its 10th anniversary, guests can expect a new biophilic design in its venue layout that they created with Leandro V. Locsin Partners for a refreshed experience in an organically designed setting and an enhanced sense of surprise and discovery.
“They take their inspiration from how nature forms itself, the randomness of some things but with an underlying order. It actually presents to the public a sense of discovery, in the same way, that one walks into a gallery and experiences art.” Andy Locsin, administrator and design consultant of Leandro V. Locsin Partners, told the media in a press conference for the Art Fair.
An exciting lineup of exhibitors
This 2023, Art Fair Philippines welcomes 63 exhibitors from the Philippines and overseas.
The exhibitors from the Philippines include: 1335/Mabini, Anakbanwa Creative Residency Project, Art Cube, Art Elaan, Art for Space, Art Lounge Manila, Art Underground, Art Verité, Artery Art Space, Boston Art Gallery, CANVAS, Early Light, FIFTH WALL FEST, FotomotoPH, GALERIA PALOMA, Galerie Stephanie, Gravity Art Space, isTorya Studios, J Studio, Jes Aznar, Kaida Contemporary, KalawakanSpacetime, KANTINA, Kapitan Kulam, León Gallery, Lunang Mentoring Program, Mark Lewis Higgins, METRO Gallery, MONO8, Mugna Gallery + Foundation University DAFA, no space, Orange Project, Paint Bukog, Paseo Art Gallery, Pintô Art Museum, Qube Gallery, Secret Fresh Gallery, SILVERLENS, Sitting Room Studios, Sulyap Gallery by Tahanan Pottery, Super Duper Gallery, TARZEER PICTURES, The Crucible, Tom Epperson, TRIANGULUM, Tin-aw Art Projects, Village Art Gallery, White Walls Gallery, and Ysobel Art Gallery.
These leading galleries from the country will be joined by a wide roster of foreign galleries such as Art Agenda (Singapore and Jakarta), Artemis Art (Malaysia), Gallery Kogure (Japan), Kobayashi Gallery (Japan), Cayón (Spain), GALLERY SCENA (Japan), La Lanta Fine Art (Thailand), Nunu Fine Art (Taiwan), Gajah Gallery (Singapore), Vin Gallery (Vietnam), Yavuz Gallery (Singapore and Australia), and YOD Gallery (Japan).
Also joining the fair are several art groups from the three main island clusters of the Philippines through a section focused on local regions. These are no Space (Luzon), Orange Project (Visayas), and Panit Bukog (Mindanao).
ArtFairPH/Digital to highlight AR, VR, NFTs, and more
Art Fair Philippines also introduces a new section focusing on digital media and works that incorporate computer technology, animation, virtual or augmented reality, the metaverse, and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
It will highlight two special exhibits featuring Filipino digital artists making waves in the global digital art sphere: Skye Nicolas presents Frequencies of Nostalgia, while Mark Inducil, who currently lives and works in Melbourne, mounts Homecoming. These special exhibits are curated by CryptoArtPH artists Bjorn Calleja and Jopet Arias, and this new section is co-presented by Globe Platinum.
ArtFairPH/Projects & ArtFairPH/Photo further expands the fair
For ArtFairPH/Projects, Art Fair Philippines works once again with art consultant Norman Crisologo to showcase works that are commissioned for the fair from artists who have made an impact both critically and commercially.
The artists mounting their special exhibits are Faye Abantao, Kiko Escora, Mark Andy Garcia, Raymond Guevarra, Pow Martinez, Yeo Kaa, and Peter Zimmerman. This section is co-presented by BPI and located at The Link’s Roof Deck.
“BPI sees the works of these talented artists not only as cultural expressions but also as art forms for investing in the future. Art is also a means to immortalize an idea that defines a generation. It is history in the making,” said Jenny Lacerna, BPI Product & Sales Head of Unsecured Lending and Cards.
Meanwhile, ArtFairPH/Photo will showcase photographer Wawi Navarroza’s series of striking self-portraits, which also feature in a current survey of Southeast Asian photography at the National Gallery of Singapore, come together for As Wild As We Come for this year’s ArtFairPH/Photo section.
In addition to these special projects, the fair will also hold a special exhibition by Indonesian artist Yunizar titled YUNIZAR: New Perspectives, and the works by German painter, sculptor, and object artist Peter Zimmerman.
Pioneering female abstractionist Rosario Bitanga, who in her 80s still creates art, will be showcasing both old and new works in the show Rosario Bitanga: Past, Present, Participant curated by architect and art consultant Miguel Rosales.
Making tributes & showcasing artist residencies
The Art Fair Philippines will also be paying tribute to two art world personalities who have recently passed away, Norma Liongoren (Liongoren Gallery), and Albert Avellana (Avellana ArtGallery). Both Liongoren and Avellana have left their marks on the local art scene with their works and galleries.
The art fair will also be exhibiting works from this year’s batch of artists who completed artist residencies in different parts of the country: IC Jaucian for Manila Observatory, Nicolei Gupit for Linangan Art Residency, Aaron Kaiser Garcia for Emerging Islands, ESL Chen and Jonathan Baldonado for Orange Project, and James Clar for Butanding Barrio. ArtFairPH/Residencies was launched in 2021 in partnership with Bleeding Heart Rum Corporation, makers of Don Papa Rum.
Learning at the Art Fair Philippines
Enhance your art appreciation and learn straight from the notable artists of the fair with ArtFairPH/Talks. Made in partnership with the Ateneo Art Gallery and Museum Foundation of the Philippines, this section will offer visitors a variety of lectures, panel discussions, and talks. See the full details here.
Get more learning opportunities through ArtFairPH/Workshops which will focus on digital art this year, organized with their educational partner Tezos and its Asian arm, TZAPAC. Learn more about getting into digital art and the local crypto art scene with ArtFairPH/Workshops.
ArtFairPH/Film will also continue this year, with the Ateneo Art Gallery curating the program with two evenings of compelling selections. Alternative Cinema : History, Theory and Practice will feature renowned filmmaker and film historian Nick Deocampo who will present an overview of how the country’s alternative cinema continues to develop.
For the second night, ArtFairPH/Film will screen a selection of lumbung films featured for DOCUMENTA 15 in Kassel, Germany. The lineup for the second film evening is co-organized with Resbak and Lost Frames.
The 10 Days of Art are back
Also to complement the fair, the 10 Days of Art initiative which runs from February 10 to 19 will feature a series of events around the Makati Central Business District. Galleries, museums, bars, restaurants, and retail establishments will join in celebrating art beyond the venue of the art fair. The 10 Days of Art will kick off with Gallery Weekend, where visitors are encouraged to visit galleries and see the exhibitions at their respective locations. For the schedule and updates, visit www.10daysofart.com.
Purchase your tickets in advance at www.artfairphilippines.com. Tickets will also be available at the reception area of Art Fair Philippines from February 17 to 19. For more information, please visit the Art Fair Philippines website and follow Art Fair Philippines on Instagram and Facebook.
Art Fair Philippines 2023 is co-presented by AyalaLand, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Globe Platinum, with a special project partner Don Papa Rum. The fair is also sponsored by Rizome. Its official hotel partners are Fairmont and Raffles Makati, and Holiday Inn and Suites.
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Homestream images from Art Lounge Manila, Paseo Art Gallery, White Walls Gallery, and Super Duper Gallery.
