February is upon us, and art enthusiasts are counting the days to a particular highlight–Art Fair Philippines 2024. This year’s iteration is set to be another dazzling celebration of Filipino modern and contemporary art, fusing both traditional and digital mediums that reshape artistry as we know it.
From February 16 to 18, The Link in Makati City–and various spots across the metro–will transform into a vibrant hub, showcasing the richness and diversity of the Philippine visual arts scene. Here's a list of the exciting things you can expect at the upcoming art fair:
What to Expect at Art Fair Philippines 2024
1. ArtFairPH/Projects and Special Exhibitions
Curated for the fair, ARTFAIRPH/PROJECTS will unveil inventive exhibitions, featuring the works of distinguished Filipino artists such as Jonathan Ching, Jigger Cruz, Gean Brix Garcia, Rod Paras-Perez, this year’s selection of women modernists, and muralist painters mentored by Alfredo Esquillo Jr. and Renato Habulan.
Alongside that, the Projects section will also feature Brooklyn multi-disciplinary artist Mr. StarCity, Romanian conceptual artist Andreea Medar, and Spanish artist Eugenio Ampudia.
Noteworthy is the special exhibit "Pambabae," spotlighting Filipina women modernists from the vibrant creative period of 1969 to 1989, which include Ivi Avellana Cosio, Ileana Lee, Nelfa Querubin, Evelyn Collantes, Phyllis Zaballero, and Lilian Hwang.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Karen H. Montinola Selection grant has been awarded to visual artist Gean Brix Garcia. A retrospective curated by Norman Crisologo will also be exhibited, featuring past grant recipients and highlighting the grant’s 10th anniversary.
2. ArtFairPH/Residencies
Visual reports from selected residency artists in 2023–including artists from across the country and international artists associated with Orange Project–will also be spotted at the exhibition. The featured residency artists include:
- Mark Salvatus for Manila Observatory in Quezon City, Manila
- Anna Miguel Cervantes for Linangan Art Residency in Alfonso, Cavite
- Jett Ilagan for Emerging Islands in San Juan, La Union
- Julian Tapales for Butanding Barrio in Puerto Princesa, Palawan
- Renz Baluyot for Orange Projects in Bacolod, Negros Occidental
- Two international artists joining the residency program in Orange Project in 2024: Iseult Perrault and Petr Hajdyla
3. 55 Exhibitors from the Philippines and Across the World
This year, the country’s top galleries will be joined by international galleries from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, and even the Metaverse. See the participating exhibitors below:
- Altro Mondo
- Art Agenda
- Art Cube Gallery
- Art Elaan
- Art for Space
- Art Lounge Manila
- Art Underground
- Art Verité Gallery
- Artemis Art
- Avellana Art Gallery
- Boston Art Gallery
- CANVAS
- Cartellino
- G A L E R I A P A L O M A
- Gajah Gallery
- Galerie Stephanie
- Galería Cayón
- GALLERY KOGURE
- Gravity Art Space
- J STUDIO
- Kaida Contemporary
- Kobayashi Gallery
- León Gallery
- METRO Gallery
- Mind Set Art Center
- Modeka Art
- MONO8
- Nunu Fine Art
- Orange Project
- Paseo Art Gallery
- Pintô Art Museum and Arboretum
- Qube Gallery
- Richard Koh Fine Art
- Secret Fresh Gallery
- SHUKADO+GALLERY SCENA
- SILVERLENS
- Superduper Art Gallery
- TARZEER PICTURES
- The Columns Gallery
- THE CRUCIBLE GALLERY
- TRIANGULUM
- Vantage Contemporary
- Village Art Gallery
- Vin Gallery
- White Walls Gallery
- Yavuz Gallery
- Yiri Arts
- YOD Gallery
- YSOBEL Art Gallery
4. ArtFairPH/Talks
A series of talks in partnership with the Ateneo Art Gallery covers various topics, including the intersections of art and science, women in modern art, and image interpretation from a historical perspective. Alongside that, the Lopez Museum will also hold demonstrations on basic stretching, matting, and framing of canvas, and the basics of artwork conservation.
5. ArtFairPH/Digital
ArtFairPH/Digital puts the spotlight on digital media, featuring works by artists engaging with technology, AI, and the metaverse. David Gryn, founder of digital art proponent Daata, will present Best Dressed Chicken (Manila Version), a collection of digital video artworks on vanity and choice.
The Digital section will also highlight a collaboration with CryptoArt PH, a community that illuminates Filipino creators in the web3 space, and the innovations done with NFTs and blockchain technology.
6. ArtFairPH/Photo
This year, ArtFairPH/Photo’s sole exhibitor will showcase Filipino photography through the Manila-based FotomotoPH, an organization that holds annual exhibitions, programs, and special projects with photographer curators and writers across the country. The Art Fair exhibition will be curated and helmed by the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Sandra Palomar.
7. ArtFairPH/Film
ArtFairPH/Film will present NO SHOWING, a unique project curated by filmmaker Moira Lang, which offers a space for conversations on the state of movie making and moviegoing in the Philippines. Dubbed as a “a hangout/speakeasy/watering hole/listening party/dance floor/breathing space,’ the project is a festival of conversations on local film today.
8. 10 Days of Art
The 10 Days of Art initiative extends beyond the fair, featuring events around the Makati Central Business District. Public art installations–including works by Derek Tumala at Ayala Avenue and a video projection titled "Prismatic Embrace" by engineer Isaiah Cacnio and artists AJ Dimarucot and Carlos found at the Ayala Triangle Garden Tower 2–will add a dynamic dimension to the event. Gallery Weekend from February 9 to 11 encourages visitors to explore gallery exhibitions at various locations during the three-day event.
Art Fair Philippines 2024 is from February 16 to 18 at The Link, Parkway Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fair tickets can be purchased at www.artfairphilippines.com and at the reception area of Art Fair Philippines. For more information, visit the Art Fair Philippines website and Art Fair Philippines’s official Instagram and Facebook.
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