Will Art Fair Philippines 2017 be more political?
The buzz around the table at the press conference was that this year’s edition of Art Fair Philippines (AFP) is going to be — here’s that P word — “political.” Maybe it’s because Jose Tence Ruiz, who represented the Philippines at the Venice Biennale in 2015, has been commissioned to mount an installation on the sixth floor of The Link, “a socio-realist commentary on the country’s current political issues. ”And that Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani and Manny Garibay (who once belonged to Salingpusa, a group which espoused art with a social awareness) will rejoin forces with an installation of their own, which may or may not be politically charged.
All the more reason to get excited with the fifth year of Art Fair Philippines slated from Feb. 16 to 19 at The Link carpark in Ayala Center Makati. Five very intriguing, surprise-riddled years and counting. Cathy Bengzon — head of corporate marketing of Ayala Land Inc. (AFI), one of the co-presenters of AFP — remembers year one.
“We were at Pancake House at the Link, and they (Lisa Periquet, Trickie Lopa and Dindin Araneta) were presenting a way of bringing the concept of Filipino contemporary art closer to the public.” Everyone agreed that the venue was the most critical part in the whole enterprise. An idea was hit upon: turn a carpark into an art space. Bengzon adds, “I thought that was such a novel idea, a compelling story, but it was quite a challenge. But with the vision, determination, creativity and the hard work of these Art Fair ladies, we are now in the fifth edition.” And how the stats have tripled. Trickie Lopa says, “When we opened in 2013, we welcomed 6,000 visitors. Last year, there were 22,000 visitors. We started with 24 galleries. For this year, we will be welcoming 46 galleries, including 12 international galleries.”
“We’ve expanded quite a bit,” says Lisa Periquet. The fifth floor of The Link will be turned into a reception area, a sponsors’ floor with special exhibitions, and a café. The two floors of dedicated art space are now augmented with a roof deck — more playground areas for art lovers to park their everyday mundane concerns and ride with artists toward artistic revelations.
Aside from Tence Ruiz, Borlongan, Justiniani and Garibay, other artists commissioned for the 2017 art fair projects are Agnes Arellano, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Dex Fernandez, Maria Jeona Zoleta, and the WSK group of sound artists.
Dindin Araneta explains, “When we started in 2013, one of the things we talked about was the desire to build an audience for Filipino contemporary art. It’s very important to us, as part of our vision, to hold talks which we do in cooperation with the Ateneo Art Gallery for content and with the Museum Foundation of the Philippines as grant partner.”
Featured in the three-day talks are Canadian writer and sociologist of culture Dr. Sarah Thornton, author of Seven Days in the Art
World and 33 Artists in 3 Acts. Also, Filipino historian, academic and journalist Ambeth Ocampo will talk on the exhibition he curated at the Ateneo Art Gallery featuring works by National Artist Arturo Luz. Professor Tony Godfrey — teacher, writer, and curator — will discuss the meaning of a “masterpiece” in today’s contemporary art scene.
To complement the fair, Art Fair Philippines will launch “10 Days of Art,” from Feb. 9 to 19, a series of events around Makati and Bonifacio Global City involving galleries, museum, bars, restaurants, and retail establishments. The idea is for the celebration of art to spread beyond the venue of the fair in the days leading up to its opening.
“Pretty soon,” STAR Lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil tells the Art Fair ladies, the ever-expanding Art Fair Philippines “will be turned into an art month altogether.”
She may be on to something. The possibility of that happening might just be around the corner. Ready to park itself inside The Link.
Art Fair Philippines 2017 is co-presented by Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe, Julius Baer, and Bench. Major sponsors are Make It Makati, Ayala Land Premiere, and Volkswagen. Official hotel partners are The Raffles and Fairmont Makati, and the Holiday Inn and Suites. Official media partners are The Philippine STAR, Summit Media, and CNN. Food and beverage partners are Don Papa Rum, Kai, and the Straits Wine Company. Providers and supporters are Coca Cola, San Miguel Brewery, and Boysen.
For information on Art Fair Philippines 2017, visit www.artfairphilippines.com or
www.facebook/artfairph, @artfairph on Instagram and Twitter.