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Hundreds of art enthusiasts and explorers have gathered last October 17 at SMX Aura for ManilArt 2018’s Gala Night, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the longest-running art fair in the country. This year’s theme is, “Ang ARTe ng Pilipinas. Celebrating a Decade of Excellence”. A number of prominent figures, from celebrities to politicians to businessmen, were present as well, with Senator Pia Cayetano giving the opening speech, declaring October as Museums and Galleries month lead by the National Commission for Culture and Arts. Twenty-six bonafide galleries were chosen as the exhibitors, which contribute to the extensive mix of art collection created by Philippine art masters and promising contemporary local artists. I’ve been to few art exhibits before, but nothing as big and prestigious as the ManilArt. Looking around, my heart felt really proud seeing these various pieces of fine art. It truly felt like a celebration of local artistic talents and creations. ManilArt showcased everything from painting and sculpture, to installation, and my favorite art category, performance art. Featuring designer Janella Ibay as the Goddess of Memory, the evening’s live production was presented by the Memory Maker’s Boudoir at the VIP Lounge. A collective of various forms of art was curated by the surrealist, Gromyko Semper. Entering the convention center, I was welcomed by numerous paintings and sculptures, all of it having different characteristics that mirror its creators. Each one caters to people’s varying personalities. It’s got everything from colorful to darker tones; abstract to geometric figures; nature to religious themes and even maximalist to minimalist artistry. I’ve always had a soft spot for Salvador Dali’s artworks and this may attribute to my interest in bizarre art, so it’s no surprise that the one piece that piqued my interest was the Dali-inspired female sculpture by multi-awarded artist, Fred Baldemor. They say that art is supposed to make you feel something, and this one spoke to my heart the most. I still think that a lot of Filipinos have yet to delve deeper into Philippine arts. As an art noob, I am very pleased that my first ManilArt fair provided me an experience that’s remarkably eye-opening and made me more appreciative of our own people, heritage and culture.
