For 8 years now, Art Fair remains dedicated to fulfilling its mission of expanding the audience for Philippine visual art. It is recognised as a premier platform for exhibiting and selling modern and contemporary art - showcasing top notch names and new entrants on the scene as well. The Fair aims to make art more accessible to enthusiasts and to people who want to discover “one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting art landscapes”.

This year, Art Fair welcomes 61 exhibitors from the Philippines and abroad. The fair is working with art consultant Norman Crisologo, who takes on conceptualised exhibition projects for art galleries.

Although the fair does not usually work with themes, the artistic process seems to be the main highlight of this year’s Art Fair as the exhibits come together. “The theme, as it comes together, is something that is a little out-of-the-box, techniques that people aren’t so familiar with. There’s a lot of assemblage, a lot of drawings...” co-founder Lisa says.

“Drawing is an under-appreciated art, but the thing about drawings, it is often the basis of the artworks that people create. It’s immediate and it’s raw. That’s where it starts. The artistic process or creative process is highlighted here and how it is manifested in different forms,” she adds.

The 2020 featured artists that fairgoers must watch out for include the late Onib Olmedo, Salvador Joel Alonday, Perry Angel, Jaime De Guzman, Roedil Joe Geraldo, Jellyfish Kisses, Gene Paul Martin, Neil Pasilan, and Carlo Villafuerte, this year’s recipient of the Karen H. Montinola Selection. Hublot, the official timekeeper of Art Fair Philippines 2020, will present new works of Rodel Tapaya.

Complementing art fair is the 10 Days of Art initiative which is a series of events around Makati Central Business District. Here, galleries, museums, bars, restaurants, and retail establishments will all participate in celebrating art beyond the venue of the fair.

In hopes of bringing visual art closer to the public, this initiative includes public exhibitions such as an outdoor cinema where films will be projected on the ceiling of Tower One from 14 to 16 February. Video productions will also be projected at the facade of The Link in the evenings of 14 to 23 February, as a part of the initiative.

For schedule and updates, visit www.10daysofart.com.

The 2020 edition of the fair will present several new components such as workshops, projects, and short films. Here are what fairgoers can expect this year:

Art Fair is introducing a new section called Open Studios, complementing ArtFairPH/Talks. It will present a series of workshops by highly regarded practitioners of arts and culture. The section includes a two-day workshop on photography with Paco Guerrero, lighting techniques for photographers with Neal Oshima and Mark Nicdao, and wooden furniture workshop with Benji Reyes.

There will also be demos on watercolour painting techniques with Claude Tayag, a cyanotype workshop with Alexis Oshima and Angela Silva, a rubber cutting workshop with Association of Pinoyprintmakers, and sculptural planter-making workshop with Rita Gudiño of Tahanan Pottery.

The Film section, curated by Erwin Romulo, Philbert Dy, and Teddy Co acknowledges the evolving Philippine cinema and the last hundred years it has conquered. The section will screen a selection of feature-length, shorts, narratives, documentary, and animation.

Lastly, the fair also welcomes the Incubators section that features creative spaces outside the conventional mainstream gallery setup. Exhibitors include Giatay, art/n23, Limbo, Loadnadito projects, Project 20 and Signum.

“It is almost going to be like a playground. [There will be] nooks and crannies where you can see the artworks. It’s entering a space. It’s immersive. Last year kasi, we did it the normal way we do it but all in one space, parang booths. They are all going to be mixed up, free-flowing. It’s not going to be restricted,” explains Lisa Perquet.

Fair tickets can be purchased in advance at www.artfairphilippines.com. Ticket will also be available at the reception area of Art Fair Philippines from 21 to 23 February 2020.