Held earlier this month from October 9 to 13, the country’s national art fair showcased a convergence of Philippine art in its many shades. ManilART ’24, with its theme “Prisms and Mosaics,” reflected the diversity of Philippine contemporary art, uniting various expressions into a vibrant, cohesive whole. This annual event, now on its 16th year, banners the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)’s overall celebration for Museums and Galleries Month, themed “Ani ng Sining, Bayang Malikhain” (Art’s Harvest, A Creative Nation).
Visions in Glass: The Legacy of Ramon Orlina
Philippine glassmaster Ramon Orlina’s long-awaited coffee table book, Visions in Glass, authored by art critic Cid Reyes and designed by Dopy Doplon, showcases his remarkable journey as an artist. Weighing 6 kilograms and comprising 57 chapters, this book is hefty not just in its contents. It spans Orlina’s artistic journey from the 1960s to the present, highlighting his life’s work of transforming discarded glass cullets into stunning art pieces. The overall project was brought to life and spearheaded by his wife, Lay Ann Orlina.
The book launch attracted notable personalities, including National Artist Virgilio Almario, Secretary Sonny Angara, Senator Allan Cayetano and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, Dr. Jimmy Laya, celebrity art patron Ms. Assunta De Rossi Ledesma, Metrobank Foundation’s Chito and Anna Sobrepeña, and Ms. Daphne Osena Paez, among many others. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach-Jauncey was honored as the book’s Ambassador at the launch. In attendance at both the book launch and the vernissage night were top diplomats including Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino of Malaysia, Ambassador Tull Traisorat of Thailand, Ambassador Dr. Lai Thai Binh of Vietnam, Ambassador Dr. Titanilla Toth of Hungary, Mr. Martin Karuse from the German Embassy and Mr. Mouablong Xayvue from the Embassy of Laos. Apart from this milestone book launch, Orlina has inspired his children, Michael and Anna, to pursue careers as glass artists, and his family has also established Museo Orlina as a cultural landmark in Batangas to honor his artistry.
Book signing by Ramon Orlina
Illuminating the Mosaic: Some Highlights of ManilART ’24
This year’s fair featured an impressive array of works from 32 participating galleries. Plugged into Fernalia: Art in the Age of AI, curated by Gromyko Semper, explored the intersection of art and technology and its implications for contemporary creativity. The exhibit showcased a diverse range of artistic forms, including painting, sculpture, digital art, photography, and mixed media, featuring works from various artists such as Noel Sadicon, Joshua Palisoc, Pen Medina, Isobel Francisco, Jonathan Benitez, and Austrian fantastic realist artist Peter Gric. The exhibition was organized into four thematic sections: “Origins and Inspirations,” reflecting on AI’s initial promise to the art world; “Ethics and Appropriation,” addressing artists’ concerns about the use of their work by AI companies; “Human vs. Machine,” comparing AI-generated art with human creations; and “Future Visions,” envisioning the future of creativity in an AI-driven landscape.
Panel on AI and its effects on the art industry.
Several artists chose to focus on nostalgia as their muse across various exhibitions. Hues of Nostalgia featured glass artist Anna Orlina and painters Bea Policarpio and Abby Añover, each interpreting a chosen decade. The Blast from the Past series by Otep Bañez presented mixed media installations infused with childhood memories and nostalgic technologies like the Walkman. Ang mga Anik-Anik ng Diwang Di-Malirip, curated by Gromyko Semper and Cheryl Hironaka, explored the Filipino practice of collecting small, sentimental objects known as “anik-anik,” representing personal history and memory. These exhibitions reflected on the intricacies of human existence and the connections formed through treasured memories.
This year’s iteration of the fair also featured collaborations between renowned sculptors. Steampunk Unplugged, by Danny Rayos del Sol and Ram Mallari, combined intricately carved ostrich eggshells and carabao skulls with brass robotic figures, pushing the limits of imagination. Jik Villanueva and Ramon Orlina showcased larger-than-life sculptures of brass ants carrying glass “grains,” highlighting that persistence yields good fortune.
Ed Coronel’s massive works graced the center-stage area of ManilART. The hyperrealist painter’s pieces, including the award-winning portrait of the Rayos del Sol family, Rays of the Sun, and his mural triptych The Wave, inspired by his ponderings on the West Philippine Sea, explore themes of cultural heritage and resilience through a blend of realism and expression.
Expanding the Experience: Conversations and Collaborations at ManilART
ManilART continued to offer its regular repertoire of talks, satellite shows, and refreshments. The fair hosted discussions that delved into the intersections of art, artists’ rights, and new technologies. This series of talks began on October 10 with Ian Felix Alquiros discussing Art for Stigma Reduction, followed by Hon. Christopher de Venecia’s talk on the Creative Industries Act and its significance for the visual arts and galleries on October 11. On October 12, Abe Orobia illuminated fairgoers about Art in the Colonial Periods, while Atty. Emerson Cuyo addressed An Artist’s Moral and Economic Rights, Duties, and Obligations. The round of talks concluded with a panel discussion featuring Marian Pastor Roces, Cristian Townsend, Noel Sadicon, and Jerry Yapo, who explored AI’s role in shaping contemporary artistic creation.
ManilART ‘24 also featured world-class satellite exhibits. One of these satellite shows, Viaje 4: Filipinism, was hosted across Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, delves into the essence of Filipino identity through the works of several artists, including Nino Cris Odosis, Joseph Albao, Ian Maigan, and Windsor Magnaye. Another notable exhibition, Refracted Light, occurred on October 6-7 at Ricardo’s Galeria Al Fresco in Amadeo, Cavite. Lastly, Kutkot Pa More, a solo exhibit by Elmer Nocheseda at Galerie Du Soleil in Taguig, explored his distinctive “kutkot” technique as he came to terms with the onset of Parkinson’s disease.
Lastly, ManilART’s partners provided a delightful wine-and-dine experience while viewing art. Purefoods Deli elevated a beloved brand with its quality franks, sausages, and meats; MOD Coffee offered the perfect pick-me-up; Sebastiao Cocktails helped everyone unwind; and Via Mare was once again present to serve Filipino culinary favorites alongside the art fair.
ManilART ’24 ribbon cutting with guests of honor.
“ManilART ’24: Prisms and Mosaics” was a celebration of all the shades and hues that make up Philippine contemporary art. Each fairgoer contributed to this vibrant display, reflecting the depth and creativity of the nation’s artistic landscape.
ManilART ’24’s participating galleries include 29 Kapitolyo Art Space, 371 Art Space, Annual Sculpture Review, Art Circle, Art for Space Gallery PH, Artalyer, Artienda Art Gallery, Artologist Gallery, Artes Orientes, AT Art Gallery, Daloy Likha Art Gallery, Drybrush Gallery, Espacio Manila, Florentino Gallery, Galeria Bañez, Galleria Nicolas, Galerie Artes, Galerie Raphael, Gallery Nine, Historia Art, Legacy, Life ’n Arts Gallery, M Gallery MNL, Museo Orlina, NAMI Art Gallery, OMVI Art Gallery, Pugad ni Art, Rayos del Sol Gallery, Renaissance Art Gallery, VAM International Art Gallery, Village Art Gallery and Ysobel Art Gallery.
The fair was supported by partners Museo Orlina, The City of Taguig, SM Supermalls, SMX Convention Center, Ladder Events Production, Vision Prime Media, Future Studios, Design Phoundry, Ticketbooth.ph, Via Mare Catering, Purefoods Deli, BDO, MOD Coffee, Grentek Solutions, Marco Polo Ortigas, Art Caravan, and Sebastiao Cocktails. Media partners include ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), The Philippine Star, Inquirer.net, Metro, Inquirer Pop!, The Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, Preen.ph, Business Mirror, Peoples Journal, WhenInManila.com, Scout, Pilipino Mirror, Nolisoli.ph, Klik.ph, Cebu Daily News, Experience Travel & Living, Hue TVEverywhere, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Standard, and Alike.
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by ManilART ’24.