The recent art-fair boom in Asia has mainly been in Hong Kong and Singapore, but with 10,000 participants at last year’s Art Fair Philippines, held at a carpark building in Makati, things are looking up for Metro Manila.
Next month, eight international galleries are participating in the Art Fair Philippines’ third edition, to be held over four days from February 5 to 8.
“We believe that the increase of international participants is an indication of the foreign galleries’ confidence in the Philippine audience,” says co-organizer Dindin Araneta. “They can see that Filipinos can appreciate works by contemporary artists from other countries.”
Trickie Lopa, another co-organizer, adds that most of the participating foreign galleries decided to join this year after visiting their previous art fairs. “They liked the vibe and the energy. They think that the Filipino audience is ripe for being introduced to not just Filipino artists.”
International collectors, mainly from Singapore and Indonesia, are also expected to fly in.
It won’t just be artworks, however.
Auction house Christie’s takes over the fair’s lecture series, with topics like collecting in Southeast Asia, restoring art, and post-war collections.
International galleries confirmed to participate this year come from Singapore (Arndt Gallery, Artesan Gallery + Studio, Equator Art Projects, Galerie Michael Janssen and Taksu), Hong Kong (Edouard Manguile Gallery), Taiwan (Nunu Fine Art) and Indonesia (ROH Projects).
Established and emerging local galleries are 1335 Mabini, Altromondo, Archivo, Art Cube, Art Informal, Art Verite, Avellana Art Gallery, Blanc, Boston Gallery, CANVAS, Crucible, Finale Art File, Galeria Duemila, J Studio, MO_, Nova Gallery, Pablo, Paseo Gallery, Salcedo Private View, Secret Fresh, Silverlens, The Drawing Room, Tin-Aw Art Gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl and West Gallery.
In the special exhibitions program, Roberto Feleo, artist and professor, debuts his “Tao-tao and Aklasang basi-Ang Hanay ng Ñ,” a collection of life-size sculptures that tackles “pivotal points” in Philippine history.
There will also be a section for works of contemporary artists Poklong Anading, Annie Cabigting, Buen Calubayan, Mariano Ching, Yasmin Sison, Kawayan de Guia, Alfredo Esquillo Jr, Geraldine Javier, and Maria Taniguchi.
The Karen H. Montinola section features Mike Adrao, who will show a work of charcoal on paper, entitled “Elegant Beasts Beautiful Decay,” at the reception area. This section is in memory of Montinola, who was a supporter of Filipino young artists.
Art Fair Philippines runs from Feb 5 to 8 at The Link, Ayala Center, Makati; www.artfairphilippines.com or secretariat@artfairphilippines.com, +62 2 8310953.
Photo: Facebook.com/artfairph
