Art Fair Philippines co-founders, from left, Trickie Lopa, Lisa Periquet, and Dindin Araneta. (Photo from @artfairph IG)
Art Fair Philippines has definitely left The Link carpark building and snuck its way cozily at the Ayala Triangle Gardens this year. And, just like that, things will never be the same again for the country’s biggest yearly art fair.
After the birthing pain of transferring to a new site, the years of experience clocked by its organizers gave the public a seamless experience in the end. Visitors only needed to get the information on the event’s website and social media.
‘Barrier Tape 2’ by SpY studio at Ayala Triangle Gardens (Photo by Francine Medina)
It was a relief to have high-ceilinged venues with enough ventilation, and where large-sized works such as the two-meter-tall and 10-meter-wide showpiece print of Manuel Ocampo at the Special Projects section could be more appreciated. The learning curve to navigating the area was quick because there were only two main venues to check out: The tent at Ayala Tower 1, where galleries mounted their respective shows, and Ayala Tower 2’s second floor where the ArtFairPH/Projects section was.
New York-baed Filpino artist Goldie Poblrador uses glass blowing and scents in her fragile sculptures inspired by the mythical character Medusa. (Photo by Francine Medina)
“I feel it’s like the adulting era of Art Fair,” Dindin Araneta, one of the moving forces of the yearly event, told this writer during vernissage. In 2013, Araneta,, with Trickie Lopa, and Lisa Periquet, mounted the first Art Fair Philippines.
Araneta was talking about the move to the mixed-used property landmark and its two towers, where the large exhibition spaces and the high ceilings enhanced the fair’s sense of grandness—much like the art fairs abroad.
In the Special Projects Section, ‘If All You Are Is A Nail, Then Everything Looks Like A Hammer To You’ by Manuel Ocampo. The print is about 10 meters wide and 2 meters tall. This section was designed by Rita Nazareno and Gabby Lichauco of Narazeno/Lichauco. (Photo by Francine Medina)
Other activities such as the daily Art Talks in various venues added to the engagement between artists, gallerists, art purveyors, and the visitors.
Lopa said that depite the gargantuan challenges, things eventually fell into place, “I found this edition very challenging to mount, mainly because we were working with a new venue on top of all the work that comes with organizing the fair year after year. You always expect to be hit by something from left field.”
“It was on the day before we launched 10 Days of Art, when I started to get excited and think that we could actually pull this off. I walked with Neal Oshima from the Fotomoto opening at Ayala Museum and we went through the tents. I remember telling him ‘Wow, this actually looks like an art fair.'”
Detail of Olivia d’Aboville’s ‘Wonderland of Lights’ at Ayala Circuit Mall was part of the fair’s 10 Days of Art activities. (Photo by Francine Medina)
The quantity of the galleries, the artworks, the talks, and even the participating cafès and bars pointed out the importance of community. Lopa added, “What felt so good also were the number of events organized around the fair week. Galleries opened exhibits, collectors hosted artist receptions. You could feel the buzz and couldn’t help but imbibe that, too.
“To me the four days went by in a blur. With all the running around once the fair opened. I will probably use today to savor that we did it!. We actually did it.”
Last year, it was reported that 25,000 people visited the fair during its three-day run. With this year’s more spacious venue, the organizers expected to exceed that number.
Next, Philipine Art Events, Inc., the enterprise set up by the three women, will mount another much-awaited event: Art in the Park, on March 23 (Sunday) at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati City.
After-fair drinks and eats outside Tower 2 (Photo by Francine Medina)
The free-admission event showcases affordable artworks priced at or below P70,000. Participating artists range from the established, the young, and rising ones. Besides the artworks, visitors get to enjoy art installations, food and drinks from select vendors, and the green outdoors. A portion of the sales goes to the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, which supports the National Museum of the Philippines.
For sure, that would be at least a month to recover from the Art Fair Philippines hangover.
