Photo Blog: Art Fair Philippines 2016
By Jennifer Baum Lagdameo
The fourth edition of Art Fair Philippines (AFP) (2/18–21) proved yet again to be a befitting representation of the country’s vibrant contemporary art scene, which is one of the fastest growing in Asia. The ever-expanding fair increased attendance by 60 percent from 2014 to 2015, and organizers hope to match these numbers this year as well. Similar to previous iterations, AFP has taken over The Link carpark, located in the heart of Makati’s central business district. It has transformed three levels of the garage into an exciting showcase for 40 galleries, which this year includes representation from Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in addition to the Philippines.
AFP—which always has a strong educational bent—has teamed up with the local Ateneo Art Gallery to feature a more comprehensive educational program than previous years. One level of the fair has been allocated to focus on their educational component, “ArtFairPh/Talks,” and features a space for daily talks on art history, art market and current practices in contemporary art. The fair also coincides with National Arts Month, and complimentary exhibits and tandem events are happening around the city till the end of February.
