After three years of pandemic restrictions, the fair welcomes its 10th year just in time as they return to their home venue with a “radically different” theme, promoting a new spatial experience with this year’s biophilic approach.
“[Biophilic design] takes its inspiration from how nature forms itself, the randomness of some things but with an underlying order, and actually presents to the public a sense of discovery in the same way that one walks into a gallery and experiences art— sort of [a parallel] reflection of how one sees and deals with something new,” Architect Andy Locsin said in a media launch, explaining the biophilic approach to this year’s theme in collaboration with Leandro V. Locsin Partners.
“There were a whole bunch of options that were discussed, but a decision was made to [offer] something that was relatively familiar in effect [of coming back] to the same venue, but introducing something that was a little bit different, and a little bit, should we say, disconcerting,” Locsin added.
Looking back at their 10-year journey, Art Fair PH founders Trickie Lopa, Dindin Araneta, and Lisa Ongpin-Periquet, extended their gratitude and sentiments to the public.
“I still can't believe that it's been 10 years. It gives us a sense of achievement that we set out to do our mission: expand the audience for contemporary art and expand the exposure of the audience to the many forms of contemporary art,” Lopa expressed.
Art Fair/Digital: Incorporating NFTs and the metaverse
Lopa also announced the launch of its newest section, Art Fair/Digital, with the help of curators Bjorn Calleja and Jopet Arias—both digital artists and members of Crypto Art Philippines. Exclusively featuring the works of two Filipino artists, Mark Constantine Inducil’s “Homecoming” and Skye Nicolas’s “Frequencies of Nostalgia,” this section makes way for the expansion of the local digital art space through animation, virtual reality, the metaverse, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
The fair welcomes Norman Crisologo as this section’s editorial consultant this year. The artist roster is as follows: Faye Abantao, Kiko Escora, Mark Andy Garcia, Raymond Guevarra, Pow Martinez, Yeo Kaa, and Peter Zimmerman. Under the Special Projects section are Rosario Bitanga, the first female abstractionist, and Eisa Jocson, a contemporary dancer that explores topics on gender and identity.
In honor of long-beloved artists who recently passed away, Art Fair PH will also pay tribute to Albert Avellana (Avellana Art Gallery) and Norma Liongoren (Liongoren Gallery).
Other programs to note are Art Fair/Photo and Art Fair/Talks, an annual talk from Feb. 17 to 19, with topics on landscapes, the human body, and artist features, respectively. Art Fair/Film, another one of the fair’s regular sections, will feature film historian Nick Deocampo along with a screening of a selection of lumbung films.
Local exhibitors also 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.
Tickets are priced at ₱200 for Makati students, ₱350 for non-Makati students/senior citizens/PWDs, and ₱450 for a regular day pass.
For more information, visit Art Fair Philippines 2023’s website.
