What’s next in Manila’s art scene? Discover exhibitions and events this September

Gabby Prado’s solo exhibit, Blue Plate, Synesthetic Savor at Galerie Stephanie, explores the concept of the void through the colour blue, which she sees as a moment of reflection. Her abstract works, featuring vibrant colours like oranges, greens, and yellows, contrast with blue, symbolising a mental pause amidst the chaos of life. Prado’s use of blue represents a space for clearing thoughts, reflecting on memories, and finding calm, influenced by the Korean monochrome abstraction movement, Dansaekhwa. Her exhibit invites viewers to see the void not as a symbol of dread but as a moment of stillness and sensory refreshment.

Modeka Art presents Homemade, a unique exhibit featuring the works of Aaron, Benjie, Li, and Zean Cabangis, on view until September 28. This special showcase highlights not only the individual artistic styles of the Cabangis family but also their shared, deeply rooted connection to the concept of home.

Led by Benjie Cabangis, a pioneering abstractionist and professor emeritus at the UP College of Fine Arts, the exhibit reflects his meditative approach to art—a quality that has influenced the next generation of artists in his family. Homemade explores the idea of “home” as a space of return, where familial bonds, memory, and personal growth intersect with artistic creation. 

Jonathan Ching’s exhibition, Sometimes we even see miracles at Finale Art File, delves into the themes of devotion, decay, and transformation through still life. Inspired by his mother’s Buddhist practices, Ching captures offertory flowers, immortalising their transition from vibrant freshness to decay in his paintings. These works represent perpetual prayers, preserved on canvas for personal interpretation.

Ching’s wax sculptures of fruits further symbolise offerings meant for ancestors, while his paintings, abstract up close, invite viewers to reinterpret the spiritual and emotional significance of the flowers. The exhibit reflects on the fleeting beauty of life’s offerings and spiritual devotion.

Last September 7, Jackie Lozano, Johann Guasch, and Bianca Lesaca opened Echoes at Gallery Two of the UP Fine Arts Gallery.

Through a blend of textures, form, and colour, the exhibit showcases each artist’s unique introspections. Lozano captures the beauty of overlooked daily moments, offering calm and self-reflection. Guasch’s macro photography reveals surreal beauty within the natural world, blurring the line between reality and imagination. Lesaca’s collection acts as a visual diary, where layered materials tell evolving, unpolished narratives of everyday life.

Related: Reimagining history: How is Stephanie Syjuco breathing new life into archives?

Within the historic setting of Intramuros, KR Rodgers invites us to step into the world of In Security as the exhibit runs until September 30 at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gallery. Rodgers uses the symbolism of walls—both physical and metaphorical—to explore how these structures shape our identities, communities, and societies. Through these quiet yet powerful forms, the exhibit reveals deep social divides while encouraging us to reconsider the spaces we navigate daily.

“In real-time, the same event viewed from different perspectives transforms into distinct experiences, yet remains connected at its core.” This concept anchors the group exhibition featuring Wipo, Celine Lee, Miguel Lorenzo Uy, Jed Gregorio, and Pam Quinto titled real-time at the Provenance Art Gallery. Opening on September 14, the show explores the nuanced relationship between shared moments and individual perception.

The exhibit is happening alongside PTSD Paradise, a solo show by Iya Barrioquinto.

Silverlens presents Inherent Vice, Stephanie Syjuco’s solo debut in the Philippines until October 5. Syjuco’s exhibit delves into the colonial and post-colonial narratives through American and Filipino archival materials. Her recent work explores the imagery from the Lopez Museum and Library, focusing on the Manila Chronicle’s photo morgue, which she uses to reflect on attitudes, behaviours, and historical narratives. Her work challenges conventional historical narratives, emphasising the fragmented and evolving nature of memory and history.

On view until September 28, Drift by Annie Pacaña explores the fractured urban landscape of Manila through a multi-dimensional lens. As an educator, artist, and flâneuse navigating the city’s chaotic veins, Pacaña captures the essence of this antihuman metropolis in her photos and videos. The exhibit features kaleidoscopic layouts, car and train ride footage, and windshield installations, reflecting on the city’s resistance to slowness and its ever-transforming nature. The prelude event, Sound Visuals V: Zero Start, showcased these works in collaboration with experimental musicians and artists, enhancing the immersive experience.

Eat All You Can by Linds Lee is inspired by a familiar phrase from Philippine restaurants, which examines the tension between celebration and excess. Through this body of work, the artist explores how our cultural tendencies to link consumption with happiness reveal deeper implications about our cravings and the ways we justify indulgence. The show invites viewers to reflect on the complex relationship between indulgence and well-being.

The Luzon Art Fair returns for its second year, inviting artists, collectors, and art lovers to celebrate the creative talent of the Luzon region. Taking place from October 3 to 6 at Diwa ng Tarlac and Bulwagang Kanlahi in Tarlac City, this exciting event offers a vibrant showcase of works ranging from painting and sculpture to digital art and immersive installations.

Organised by the Provincial Government of Tarlac with support from the NCCA’s National Committee on Art Galleries, the fair features over 500 emerging and established artists. Highlights include curated exhibits exploring indigenous traditions and contemporary expression, interactive installations, and art talks on identity, culture, and sustainability.

Join the special reception on October 5 at 2 p.m., and experience a dynamic celebration of Luzon’s artistic heritage and future.

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