Sneak Peek: 10 Must-See Works at the Online Version of ArtFairPH
(SPOT.ph) For the first time since its inception in 2013, Art Fair Philippines 2022 is having a hybrid set-up from March 23 to April 1. You basically have three options on how to go about it: first, you can head to Ayala Triangle Gardens from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to check out the special exhibit for ArtFairPH/Projects or experience the outdoor screening for ArtFairPH/Films; second, you can go gallery hopping in Metro Manila and see the latest works of your favorite artists; third, you can sign in online and enjoy the virtual exhibition from the comforts of your couch. Of course, it's best to do all three; but just in case you choose to do the URL route, navigating Art Fair Philippines' website is fairly easy—especially since this is the second time that the much-awaited art event is having an online portal.
You can tap on "Exhibitors" to check out all the participating galleries during the 10-day fair. Each gallery's page has all the details you need whether you choose to head there physically (address, contact numbers, and a "Set an Appointment" button) or virtually. When viewing individual works through the virtual exhibition, you can also click on "View on Gallery Wall" or "View in Room" for a scaled preview of how it would look like in a physical space. You can even select your preferred frames in case you intend to buy the piece.
Here are the works that caught our attention at Art Fair Philippines 2022's URL version:
"Climax" by Mimi Salibo (Art Underground Manila)
Thread, canvas, fabric dye
36 x 24 inches
2022
Mimi Salibio's series of works, Softest Gravel at Art Underground, challenges the concept of impossibility and possibility. With her signature medium of thread on canvas, she creates an irony in the softness of the fabric and the hardness of gravel. In "Climax," she creates an interesting rendition of figures that may seem familiar at first glance but the appearance of these elements also tests what we know of these things, stretching the line of otherwordly possibilities.
"Historya ng Pilipinas" by Jaypee Samson (CANVAS)
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches
2022
In CANVAS' I am the Storyteller exhibit, various artworks show the power of illustrations in telling a story. This aligns with the cultural organization's mission to work with the creative community to promote children's literacy and a sense of national identity. Jaypee Samson's "Historya ng Pilipinas," for example, tells the rich history of the Filipinos through elements often seen in our textbooks.
"Ah Yes Gemini" by Chati Coronel (Silverlens)
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 84 inches
2021
Chati Coronel is one of the featured artists in Silverlens' group show called Woman in Color, a celebration of women artists in time for Women's Month. In "Ah Yes Gemini," she puts to use her distinct painting methodology, which she refers to as "Figurative Spatialism," wherein negative space is painted over with layers to form a silhouette. The piece shows two women figures facing each other in what seems to be a burst of colors from a prism. The title also calls to attention what we know of the constellation, which also happens to be an astrological sign that alludes to being two sides of the same coin.
"Untitled (Let Us Build A Mountain)" by Patricia Perez Eustaquio (Silverlens)
Graphite on paper
44 x 49.5 inches
2016
Silverlens' Drawings and Found Objects puts together the works of Pio Abad, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Gregory Halili, Renato Orara, Gary Ross Pastrana, Norberto Roldan, and Issay Rodriguez. Eustaquio's "Untitled (Let Us Build A Mountain)" features an abstraction of a terrain, which in the piece forms a seemingly circular orientation.
"If" by Dino Gabito (The Metro Gallery)
Oil on canvas
96 x 96 inches
2022
Dino Gabito once again catches our attention in his The Metro Gallery exhibit called Someday. Like his previous piece "Wrangle," which was included in our 2021 picks, "If" shows haunting human figures enveloped in white fabric. This time, the four bodies represent a family, each member holding the piece of fabric close to their hearts, showing how they're bound by blood and love. Still, each figure occupies their individual spaces within the shroud, signifying their respective sense of self.
"Gust (Icarus and the Flightless Birds)" by Mark Copino (The Metro Gallery)
Acrylic and gold lacquer on canvas
60 x 60 inches
2021
Mark Copino's exhibition, Solace, is based on the all-too-familiar concept of domesticity, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced most of us to stay home. He exposes how he has found safety, comfort, and intimacy within the confines of a small space through acrylic paintings or brass sculptures. In "Gust (Icarus and the Flightless Birds)," he references the Greek mythological character. But instead of having wings that bring Icarus too close to the sun, Copino's young character is stuck within the four walls of a room—as flightless as the birds surrounding him.
"Access to the Vivid" by Neil dela Cruz (Yavuz Gallery)
Acrylic on canvas
48 x 60 inches
2022
Singapore-based Yavuz Gallery holds a pop-up exhibition at KONDWI Gallery in Makati City. One of the gallery's pieces, "Access to the Vivid" by Neil dela Cruz, draws in viewers with its abundance of colors and overlapping lines that lead you to the center of the canvas. The Metro Manila-based painter, who hails from La Union, is known for his muted abstract works.
"Influencers" by Jett Osian (Secret Fresh Gallery)
Oil on canvas
24 x 30 inches
2021
For Art Fair Philippines, Secret Fresh Gallery in Greenhills, San Juan holds Jett Osian's solo show called Dysfunctional Platform. He hopes to confront the power and peril of a social media-influenced society, including the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation. In "Influencers," he presents a bold take on the content being produced by what the modern-day world calls influencers—people who use their clout to market and endorse products, events, and even ideologies.
"Hacienda La Fortuna" by Angela Silva (Qube Gallery)
Cyanotype prints on rice paper, digital prints on vellum paper
72 x 31.5 inches
2022
In Qube Gallery's Into the Blue exhibit, mixed-media artist and printmaker Angela Silva uses an old-school image-capturing method called cyanotype, which produces pictures in gradients of cyan. This technique is not only employed to showcase an out-of-the-ordinary medium, but also to complement the artist's concept of delving into the past through family photographs. "Hacienda La Fortuna," in particular, explores the environment and human interactions surrounding the popular Ledesma-owned sugar plantation in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Silva hails from Talisay and her works are often rooted in Negrense culture.
"Exile Trace of Beauty #5" by Taufik Ermas (Mono8)
Acrylic on contoured layered canvas
19.69 x 19.69 inches
2021
In Invisible Presence at Mono8 Gallery, Sumatra-born Taufik Ermas digs deep into what we know about ourselves, specifically three aspects of spirituality: suffering, awakening, and ascending. "Exile Trace of Beauty #5" looks into how we see beauty as signified by a glass window that frames a gloomy environment.
Art Fair Philippines 2022 runs from March 23 to April 1 at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Paseo De Roxas Street corner Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue, Makati City. For more information, visit Art Fair Philippines' website.
