Filipino talents take centerstage at Festival Mall in Alabang from December 8 to 11
All roads in Philippine Contemporary Art once again lead to southern Metro Manila as The Manila’Bang Show sets a bigger, more Filipino-focused 2nd edition at Festival Mall in Alabang from December 8 to 11, 2022.
Coming off last year’s maiden run that positioned the fair as the newest international art event in Southeast Asia, this year’s showcase shines the spotlight on local artists and the Philippine arts scene with the theme, “Contemporary Art, the Manila Way.” Over 2,500 square meters of space at the venue will feature curated exhibitions and series of discussions, along with presentations from over 20 galleries.
“Since Manila’Bang’s first run last year, we have always been pondering on the ‘now,’” says artistic director Alain Zedrick Camiling, who leads The Manila’Bang Show 2022 alongside its organizer, Contemporary ArtFairs ManilaPH. “In 2021, we were guided by our curatorial concept ‘an animate proof of life’ pointing to how the arts ecosystem has remained spirited despite the pandemic constraints as seen in many creative resonances by diverse artists from both local and international contexts. This year, I ponder on ‘steadfast affinities’ to explicate how we constantly remained devoted to the art ecosystem’s development in the past years despite many things.”
“By affinities,” Camiling adds, “I point to the interrelationships found between art, society, the everyday, and ourselves, among others. We intend to highlight Manila as a nexus of an expansive arts landscape in the archipelago.”
Filipino talent at the forefront
The Manila’Bang Show 2022 presents two special exhibitions. First is an immersive installation by intermedia and ultra-contemporary artist Mark Salvatus, a presentation curated by Camiling and stems from Salvatus’ artist research introduced in Manila’Bang. Next is a group exhibition featuring Jan Balquin, Joseph Gabriel, Christina Lopez, and Eve Yu and Vik Laugo (OI Research Partners). The presentation is curated by Carlos Quijon Jr.
According to Camiling, the artists in these featured exhibitions engage in such prolific practice working on various mediums, models, and platforms across the local and international contemporary art scene.
Meanwhile, several local art galleries offer their own presentations at Manila’Bang. The participating art spaces include Arte Bettina, Secret Fresh, Altro Mondo, Art For Space, Big and Small Art Co., R Gallery, Galerie Anna, Art Toys PH, The Artologist, Lab Art Project, 1335/Mabini, M Gallery, Galerie Artes, Daloy Likha, Pugad Ni Art, Ides Contemporary Gallery, Rojo Gallery, Meatspace Gallery, Historia Arts, Galerie Raphael, Galerie Francesca, Art Anton, and Art Elaan.
From these exhibitions, a mix of featured and new-wave artists get to present Contemporary Filipino Art at its finest. The more established names include Arman Kendrick, Marge Organo, Kenneth Montegrande, Orley Ypon, and Rosscapili, among others. NFT artists are part of the fold as well, with the likes of Alab Pagarigan, Bell Sison, Two Front Teeth, and more. Meanwhile, some of the up-and-coming artists to watch out for in this year’s run are Go Raise Hell, Paulo Amparo, and Kapitan.
An interchange of perspectives
The Manila’Bang Show 2022 likewise introduces another round of insightful exchanges between professionals and practitioners. Titled “Art Talks: Interchange,” this year’s discussions dissect issues, perspectives, concerns, and frameworks for analysis related to contemporary art and culture and art collecting and management.
“’The discursive program provides glimpses to important conversations which are helpful for artistic and creative practitioners and those who engage in the arts ecosystem in general,” Camiling says.
Kicking off the “Interchange” is “Art Handling and Collections Management for Collectors” on December 9 at 3 P.M, moderated by Camiling and featuring Aprille P. Tijam of Ayala Museum and Gari Apolonio of Gateway Gallery. This is followed by “Authentication and Provenance of Artworks.”
On December 10 at 1 P.M., cryptoart will serve as the topic for “NFTs and the Digital Sphere,” featuring artists Izealist of Malaysia, Rafi Abdullah of Singapore, and Jopet Arias of the Philippines. Succeeding sessions include “Art Toys in the Philippines” and “Art of Now: Contemporary Art and Art Collectives.”
Lastly, on December 11 at 1 P.M., cultural worker and art critic Gian Carlo Delgado will moderate “What did I just see?: Contemporary Art and Visual Culture,” a session that explicates contemporary art and its interconnection with visual culture. Wrapping up the series of discussions is a lecture featuring legal practitioners who will provide an overview of related laws and policies on the arts and creative industries ecosystem.
The Manila’Bang Show 2022 will run from December 8 to 11, 2022, 10 A.M. to 9 P.M., at UGF, Expansion Wing, Civic Drive Hallway, Festival Mall, Alabang.
For more information, visit www.manilabangshow.com or email [email protected]. Follow Manila’Bang on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/themanilabangshow, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/themanilabangshow/, and Twitter at: https://twitter.com/themanilabang?s=21&t=6SLA8fztCsRG8WYA41Fofw.
