Continuing to shine the spotlight on one of Southeast Asia’s most
exciting art landscapes, Art Fair Philippines will once again transform The
Link carpark in Makati City into a multi-level art exhibition venue from
February 22 to 24.
One highlight of the fair, ARTFAIRPH/PROJECTS, will showcase work
commissioned especially for the fair from artists who have made an impact both
critically and commercially.
David Medalla, one of the most internationally recognized Filipino
artists, will stage a new iteration of A Stitch in Time.
Conceptualized in 1968, this is the first of the artist’s critically
lauded participatory works of art. It allows viewers a chance to
collaborate in the piece by sewing a trace of themselves onto a huge swathe of
canvas that will hang at the fair’s central exhibit space. A Stitch in Time has
traveled the world, most notably to the 2017 Venice Biennale. It has, however,
never enjoyed a Philippine run.
Also part of ArtFairPH/Projects is the 1974 award-winning installation
by legendary CCP curator Ray Albano (1947-1985) Step on
the Sand and Make Footprints. While better
known as the director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines from 1979 until
his death in 1985, Albano’s own innovative work still exerts influence on the
practice of conceptual art in the Philippines to this day.
This section will also feature prints and drawings by Mauro Malang
Santos (1928-2017). For this exhibition, Malang’s son and accomplished artist
Soler Santos has chosen works depicting Malang’s Women from the family’s
private collection.
The fair will also have an exhibit of the works of Colombian figurative
artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. He is known for “Boterismo,” his signature
style that depicts figures and objects in exaggerated proportions.
LivVinluan is this year’s recipient of the Karen H. Montinola Selection,
a grant given by the family in memory of a collector who championed works of
emerging artists. Vinluan‘s work is called NungGamabalain
Yung Sayawan/The Disruption of Dance.
Other
artists for ArtFair/PH Projects are Ryan Villamael (Behold a City),
OcaVillamiel (Cheap Medicine), Ian Fabro (Inferno, Purgatorio,
Paradiso), Christina QuisumbingRamilo (Forest for the Trees), Olivia
d’Aboville (Everything, Everywhere, Everyone), and MM Yu (Subject/Object).
Premier
line-up of galleries at the 7th edition of Art Fair Philippines
This
year, 36 of the leading galleries in the Philippines will be joined by 16
international galleries from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and Taiwan to
showcase curated exhibitions from local and foreign visual artists.
The
participating galleries in Art Fair Philippines 2019 are: 1335MABINI, Asian
Cultural Council/León Gallery, Affinity Art, Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea,
Archivo 1984, Art Cube, Art Underground, Art Verite, Artemis Art, Artery Art
Space, Artinformal, Avellana Art Gallery, Blanc, Botero in Asia, Boston Art
Gallery, CANVAS, CLEAR Gallery Tokyo, District Gallery, EdouardMalingue
Gallery, Eskinita Art Gallery, Finale Art File, Gajah Gallery, Galerie Roberto,
Galerie Stephanie, Galleria Duemila, Gallery Kogure, Gallery Orange, J Studio,
Kaida Contemporary, Kobayashi Gallery, La Lanta Fine Arts, Mind Set Art Center,
MO_Space, Nunu Fine Art, Paseo Art Gallery, PINTÔ ART GALLERY, Salcedo
Auctions, Secret Fresh, Shukado, Silverlens, Soka Art, TAKSU, The Crucible, The
Drawing Room, Tin-aw gallery, Underground, Vin Gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl, West Gallery,
Yavuz Gallery, YOD Gallery, and Ysobel Art Gallery.
Ingrained
in the mission of Art Fair Philippines is the expansion of audiences for art.
To this end, ArtFairPH/Talks provides fair visitors opportunities to
deepen one’s exposure even more to various topics that will enhance art
appreciation.
This
year, the fair, in partnership with National Bookstore, is proud to welcome art
historian Kathy Galitz from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A
specialist on late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century French art, Galitz
launched her book,Masterpiece Paintings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which
celebrates the most important works and the most iconic paintings in The Met
collection. She will share her extensive knowledge and insights with local art
enthusiasts and her book will be available at the fair.
Fairgoers
can also expect the fair to continue to focus on photography via the ArtFairPH/Photo
section. Launched in 2018, ArtFairPH/Photo aims to boost support for
photography as contemporary art and expand its collectability among Filipinos.
Also
complementing the fair is the 10 Days of Art initiative, a series of events
around the Makati Central Business District that will involve galleries,
museums, bars, restaurants, and retail establishments in celebrating art beyond
the venue of the fair. For schedule and updates, visit www.10daysofart.com.
Tickets
for the fair can be purchased in advance at www.artfairphilippines.com.
For more
information, please visit the Art Fair Philippines website and follow Art Fair
Philippines on Instagram (@artfairph) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/artfairph).
Art Fair
Philippines 2019 is co-presented by Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands,
Globe
Platinum, and Julius Baer. The fair is also sponsored by AC Automotive, Ayala
Land
Premier,
Make It Makati, and Don Papa. Its official hotel partners are Fairmont and
Raffles Makati, and Holiday Inn and Suites.
