Feast of the senses at Ortigas Malls
ORTIGAS Malls’ is bringing the best of film, painting, photography, sculpture, and more closer to everyone in its award-winning and admissionfree art festivities ongoing until March 31.
“We at Ortigas Malls have always supported the art community. Through the Ortigas Art Festival, we are able to bring together hundreds of talented local and even international artists and provide 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 out 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 continues to remain dedicated to pursuing the craft and enthusiasts continue to support, 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 remain foremost priorities.
“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 the 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.”
More options await the festival goers, such as virtual workshops on Visual Storytelling and Creative Composition, as well as Darkroom Developing on Color, Black and White, and Scanning Your Negatives broadcasted via Zoom and on Photonation International.
The festival’s venture to film won’t go unnoticed with its first-ever Vertical Cinema Contest, which is open to the public. This is made possible by Ortigas Malls’ partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
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 G/F East Wing, Estancia at 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 and, then, grew even bigger with over 200 artists here and abroad, including those from Southeast Asia in 2020.