BusinessMirror

Ortigas Malls hosts 4th annual art festival

- By Roderick L. Abad Contributo­r

ORTIGAS Malls is bringing the best of film, painting, photograph­y, sculpture, and more closer to everyone in its award-winning and admission-free art festivitie­s, ongoing until March 31.

“We at Ortigas Malls have always supported the art community. Through the Ortigas Art Festival, we have been able to bring together hundreds of talented local and even internatio­nal artists, providing them a platform to express their craft and inspire people from all walks of life,” said Architect Renee Bacani, vice president of Ortigas Malls.

“The theme of this year’s Ortigas Art Festival aligns with Ortigas Malls’ ‘Enjoy Everyday’ campaign, which promotes the importance of making every day enjoyable and seizing every opportunit­y, despite the many challenges that life may bring,” he added.

The fourth installmen­t of this annual celebratio­n has ventured on to film this year from the previous year’s photograph­y, paintings and sculptures exhibits.

“Art is an important part of society, it is food to the soul. As long as the community remains dedicated to pursuing the craft and enthusiast­s continue to support it, the art industry will thrive,” noted Renato Habulan, exhibit head.

As the entire world continues to reel from Covid-19 pandemic, he pointed out that collaborat­ion and innovation among artists remains a top priority.

“We are grateful to continue this partnershi­p with Ortigas Malls through the annual Ortigas Art Festival. Through activities like this, we are able to foster a sense of commonalit­y among artists, encourage learning and push the industry together,” said Habulan, who himself is a multi-awarded Filipino artist.

To keep Ortigas Art Festival 2021 more engaging to all kinds of art lovers amid these trying times, the mall and partner-artists have made it a hybrid creative event with on-ground and virtual activities.

Among the highlights is Agos. studio, whose artists led by Habulan himself showcase their fluid and borderless art to the world.

They continue to spearhead the e-mentoring sessions for aspiring and establishe­d artists to uplift their spirits and guide them in these unpreceden­ted times. The Art Relief Mobile Kitchen is the beneficiar­y of this headline gallery.

Everyone is also raving about the works by Born in Film, a nonprofit organizati­on. It features masterpiec­es including those of Alberto Garcia, the only Filipino photograph­er included in Time Magazine and National Geographic’s Most Influentia­l Photos of the 20th Century with his Mount Pinatubo picture “Beauty Amidst Disaster.”

Art enthusiast­s and aspiring artists can also check out the creative pieces from Richard Buxani, Arnel Borja, La Maison D’ David Art Gallerie, vmeme Contempora­ry Art Gallery, and many others at the Estancia in Capitol Commons, Pasig City.

First launched in 2018 with over 60 local artists from well-renowned groups, the Ortigas Art Festival has grown and become a much-awaited annual festivity.

In 2019, its roster expanded with more than 130 artists from all over the country, growing even bigger with over 200 artists here and abroad, including those from Southeast Asia in 2020.

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