It's 2017, Why Aren't You Appreciating Art Yet?

When was the last time you went to a gallery or an art museum? When was the last time you stared at a painting (that isn’t from an art meme page)? Or any work of art for that matter? Don’t be cute and say the last time you saw your crush or S.O.

Well, let’s be fair—art is found even outside the confines of an all white, air-conditioned exhibition room. And those rooms do get feel pretty hoity-toity. You find yourself in one of the corridors staring at a huge canvas and you say to yourself what the fuck am I supposed to do? Should I just stare, rub my chin, and nod slowly?

But getting back, when was the last time you stared at something that just straight up arrested your whole being? Something that knocked you off your socks and took the breath out of you.

With this year’s Art Fair Philippines, you might get that moment without any pretense. And no, I’m not talking about finding your future bae. I’m not even talking about #ahrt (emphasis on the “H”).

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Wawi Navarozza

Slated for February 16 – 19, 2017, Art Fair Philippines 2017 promises to showcase the best in Philippine modern and contemporary art at The Link carpark, located in Ayala Center Makati. In 2017, an additional floor, the open-air Roof Deck, has been added to accommodate the thousands of people who increasingly come visit the fair since its inception (from 6,000 visitors in 2013 to 22,000 in 2016). Art Fair Philippines has been happening since 2013, but this year will undoubtedly be the biggest. Here’s what’s in store:

ART FAIR PH/TALKS will include Canadian writer and sociologist of culture Dr. Sarah Thornton, former contemporary art chief correspondent for The Economist and author of several art world bestsellers such as Seven Days in the Art World and 33 Artists in 3 Acts. Also, Filipino historian, academic and journalist Prof. Ambeth R. Ocampo will talk on the solo exhibition he curated at the Ateneo Art Gallery of works by significant modern artist Arturo Luz, Philippine National Artist for the Visual Arts. Professor Tony Godfrey, teacher, writer, and curator, will offer an exchange on often asked questions about contemporary art as he discusses what “masterpiece” or being a great artist may mean today.

ART FAIR PH/TOURS will continue to propose guided tours of relevant museums around Metro Manila. No word yet on where, but let’s hope on a tour of the National Museum of Natural History near Rizal Park that’s hopefully opening soon.

ART FAIR PH/PROJECTS are new commissions in form of interactive and/or thought-provoking installations around The Link by internationally established Filipino visual artists. On the 6th floor, an installation by Jose Tence Ruiz, one of the artists who represented the Philippines at the Venice Biennale in 2015, takes center stage with a socio-realist commentary on the country’s current political issues. Other artists commissioned for the 2017 line-up are Agnes Arellano, Elmer Borlongan, Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Emmanuel Garibay, Dex Fernandez, Mark Justiniani, Maria Jeona Zoleta, and the WSK group of sound artists. The 2017 recipient of the Karen H. Montinola Selection, a private grant created in homage to art patron Karen Hernandez. Montinola with Art Fair Philippines in 2014, is interdisciplinary and ceramic artist Mark Valenzuela.

Dex Fernandez

And if you just skipped all that, maybe you’ll be interested in this: To complement the fair, Art Fair Philippines launches 10 Days of Art, from February 9 to 19, a series of events around Makati and BGC that will involve galleries, museum, bars, restaurants, and retail establishments. Yup, parties.

Here’s the full list on what’s going on for 10 Days of Art: