ON February 24 my kids and I visited Art Fair Philippines 2019 at The Link in Ayala Center, Makati City. This year’s Art Fair was held from February 22 to 24, and I have been going to the fair annually since its inception in 2013. Big thanks to my friend, Paolo Periquet, who introduced me to this and annually reminds me of the event. I love how it has evolved so much. The recent edition included both local and international artists.
I loved the ones from neighboring Asian countries, like Doan Xuan Tang and my new favorite Izumi Akiyama. I also love all the thematic 3D art and the digital visual art pieces. Most of all, I love seeing how more and more people visit the fair each year. I truly believe the Philippines’s creative economy has continuously been given such a shining global platform because of this Art Fair.
Below are some of the pieces that my kids and I really enjoyed:
My personal favorite was Izumi Akiyama’s Sill Life X V. This piece is a pencil-on-paper artwork. It reminds me of a 1969 Nena Saguil piece I have that used only black ink to draw multiple circles on paper. If you look at the candle in the middle, you will find fascinating, as I do, how both light and darkness were perfectly portrayed in a black-and-white picture.
A Stitch in Time by David Medalla is an “experiential” piece that is unique because the audience gets involved.
As explained in the exhibit: “A Stitch in Time is about travel, time and chance, but it is also about production. Medalla describes the piece as ‘participation-production-propulsion.’ It involves the audience sewing small objects of significance onto a large cloth in a public space, which requires a creative concentration and an engagement with the artwork.”
Marcus’ personal favorite was Olivia d’Aboville’s Everything, Everywhere, Everyone. He was fascinated
that everything was made of everyday plastic material. Since d’ Aboville was a child, she was a regular hitting the waves of Puerto Galera in
Oriental Mindoro. At 13, she earned her diving certification. When she was studying at Duperré, the prestigious textile design school in Paris, she discovered the practicality of plastic. It was, according to her, “already everywhere and it was free.” I truly admire the artist because her pieces were made from actual plastic found on the coastline of Puerto Galera, procured by the volunteers of the Stairway Foundation. This creates a bold message of the artist on “the World Economic Forum study which reports that in 50 years, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.”
Meagan enjoyed many of the artworks showcased at the annual art fair. There was an interesting wooden library with each wooden block titled with white chalk. She was intrigued that one was labeled with their contemporary lingo, “Yeet!” I learned that day that this meant “Yes” or “Yay”. She also enjoyed the abstract works of Jose V. Ayala Jr., the archival inkjet print works of Edber Mamisao, and the signature “rotund, voluptuous presences” of Fernando Botero. She even took her own “artistic” shot of her brother looking at Botero’s Man with Violin painting since Marcus loves playing his violin.
There were other paintings and art pieces we enjoyed. I was not able to take down all their names as I was following the lead of my kids on how they “bask” in “art” in their own playful way. You can see how Marcus copied the hands in Dina Gadia’s Land Poetics. I will share some more of these artworks next week.
I took my kids to museums as early as they were 2. I think Meagan uttered, “Amorsolo” out of nowhere when she was 3, because I took her quite often to the Ayala Museum. It was not because I was gearing them up to become artists one day. I just loved the “act of breathing” art encouraged. I have always imagined artists releasing their thoughts without boundaries, never planning the stroke, never fearing mistakes, but still ending up with a work that pleased their own soul.
This two-part article will explain my belief that art is a great way to teach kids that mistakes and failures are beautiful parts of life. The “non-deliberateness” of art produces masterpieces. The creative search can exude important points of view, even world views.
Our world often puts perfection and “exactness” on pedestals, sweeping failures under the rug. My limited exposure to art has provided me essential lessons of identity and resilience. It is always easy to say to our kids to be strong, but quite difficult to teach how. When I wanted to be a painter at 6, I was told it was not a worthy profession. Next week I will share how I built art into my life in my own way, and how I believe art has led me to raise stronger and happier kids in the process.