Metro’s south gets its own art fair
THE IDEA was to come up with something similar to the big annual art fair held in Makati City, and what artists Ricky Ocampo and JJ Duque came up with was Art In The South, an art festival in their Alabang neighborhood.
Mr. Duque — who had just had a successful one-man show in ArtistSpace in Ayala Museum at the time — and his friend Mr. Ocampo, an artist who paints using coffee, first had the idea back in April last year.
“[ We] joined forces to join another art fair that year held in Makati, and [we] toyed with the idea that there should be something much similar for those in their Alabang neighborhood, and that’s when Art In The South came to fruition,” Mr. Duque told BusinessWorld in an e- mail interview.
Not limited to artists from the south of the metro, Art In The South will be held on April 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Filinvest Tent Park area at Midway Spectrum, Filinvest City, Alabang.
It is planned that Art In The South will become an annual event celebrating art from Philippine masters to rising young artists in order to bolster the booming art scene in the country, particularly in the fast developing neighborhoods of Muntinlupa City, Laguna, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, and Cavite (collectively known as the “South.”)
“Usually, other art fairs use the galleries to bring in their artists, which of course is a standard practice. However, an artist who is not yet as accomplished, but is very talented, is welcome to share a booth [at Art in the South] with other artists and bring a few of their works,” Mr. Duque said.
He added that artists do not have to come with a dozen artworks — even with one or two pieces to sell, they can participate in Art In The South. And while other art events make a commission from sales made by galleries or artists, he said Art In The South will not profit from the sales.
“A hundred percent of what is sold goes directly to the artist or gallery who occupies the booth. In that sense, Art In The South empowers the artists with a perfect opportunity to get acclaimed and get paid their full worth,” he said.
Besides up- and- coming artists, the new art fair will feature veterans like pioneer glass sculptor Ramon Orlina, multi-awarded Bicolano artist Pancho Piano, surrealist Raul Lebajo, and impressionist Roger San Miguel.
Artists, art groups, and galleries coming from the northern and eastern parts of the Metro will also participate, such as the Castrillo Legacy Studio, the Blanco Family Museum, Galerie Raphael, Nova Art Gallery, United Women Artists Association of the Philippines, and La Giratoria Gallery, among others.
Mr. Duque said that aside the admiring art, fairgoers will have a chance to do their own paintings at the Art Nebula PH booth. There will be workshops and activities held throughout the day.
“People should come down to Art In The South to experience a more relaxed vibe. The South has fresher air and a very steady pace. The South is comfortable with some very posh neighborhoods, and for the art scene, it is ripe for the picking... Everyone who comes to Art In The South will feel refreshed and invigorated. After all, that is what the experience of coming to The South is,” he said.
For more information about the event, call 807-0574, e-mail artinthesouth@ gmail. com, or visit the Facebook Page @ artinthesouthph. —