ManilART'23: A glimpse into the dynamic world of Filipino artistry

From Oct. 11 to 15, 2023, ManilART celebrated its 15th year in grandeur with the theme "A New Contemporary," which paid homage to the past while propelling the fair into its exciting future. On its fifteenth edition, it bridged past, present, and future, allowing fairgoers to marvel at the works of established artistic forefathers and interact with next-generation immersive exhibits under one roof.

As a flagship project of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, ManilART'23 commemorated 15 years of Filipino creative brilliance during Museums and Galleries Month.

Here are 15 picks from ManilART'23, offering a glimpse into the dynamic artistic landscape:

Orlina Art Cars: At the lobby, visitors were greeted by Ramon Orlina's captivating art cars, creations by and collaborations with the celebrated glass sculptor. These painted vintage cars channeled the vibrant colors and psychedelic styles of the 1970s, providing a sneak peek into Orlina's profound passion for vehicles and three-dimensional artistry. It offered a preview of what's to come at the upcoming Orlina Art Car Museum. 

Champagne Fountain by Ramon Orlina at The Estate Lounge: In Hall 1, the Ledesma Champagne Fountain graced The Estate Makati Lounge at ManilART'23, serving as the centerpiece of The Wine Room. With its peridot hues designed to enhance the allure of sparkling wine, it added a multisensorial experience to visual and gustatory appreciation. Partner Novellino Wines, a proud Filipino brand, supplied the fountain with super-chilled, free-flowing Vivace Sparkling White Wine. The Estate Lounge gave visitors a sneak peek of the luxury and opulence of their soon-to-stand prime Ayala Avenue address, as designed by world-class builders and adorned with the art of Filipino masters. 

Ali Alejandro Digital Art (AADA) Installation: Stepping into the future, ManilART featured new media, phygital art, and augmented reality, including Ali Alejandro's Installation Art presented on a large LED screen. Through this new media, digital artists like Alejandro had limitless possibilities to project illusions of reality, utilizing materials that spanned from projections to sculptural pieces. Alejandro specifically created his digital art installation to celebrate 15 years of ManilART. 

Ombok Villamor (OMVI) Art Gallery: Inside the main exhibit hall, sculptures by its owner-namesake artist Ombok Villamor resembled tessellations of corals, forming organic shapes that evoked both surreal and contemporary elements. His recent works conveyed the dynamic energy and beauty of aquatic life, inspired by his surroundings on the shores of Samar in the Philippines. 

Marge Organo and Raisa Luz at Galleria Nicolas: Galleria Nicolas showcased a mother-and-daughter duo of glass sculptors, Marge Organo and Raisa Luz. Organo, a collector favorite at ManilART, created contemporary abstract works that evoked relatable and intimate scenes, captivating viewers with her generous use of color. Luz specialized in kiln-formed glass art, producing opalescent and transparent glass pieces that highlighted her commitment to the craft and artistic development. 

Romulo Galicano and Portrait Artists Society of the Philippines (PASPI): Galicano, the country's top figurative realist, delivered another masterpiece in his ongoing Climate Change series, offering social commentary about the spate of catastrophic changes in the world over the past two decades with his work "The Messengers of Geoengineering." He led PASPI, a group dedicated to realist/romantic realist style in painting and portraiture based out of Manila and Cebu. Many notable painters today emerged from the group. 

Artes Orientes: This booth highlighted the vibrant abstractions of Macoy Coching, the grandson of National Artist for Visual Arts Francisco Coching. His signature waves set the stage for Moonscapes, depicting full moons glowing above serene, iridescent waves. In high contrast were the steampunk works of sculptor Ram Mallari, Jr. These pieces grabbed the viewer's attention with their brute force and size. 

Junyee, Vinluan, and Aviado: The Artologist presented a triumvirate of the country's most senior artists, including Luis "Junyee" Yee Jr., Nestor Vinluan, and Virgilio "Pandy" Aviado. Junyee was hailed as the "Father of Installation Art in the Philippines," celebrated for his lifelong dedication to documenting Filipino life and creatively using indigenous materials. Dean Vinluan's work embodied his visual thinking style, bringing abstraction to a higher, spiritual plane. Pandy Aviado was renowned as the top figure in Philippine printmaking, leaving an indelible legacy in the medium. 

Featured Artists at the Annual Sculpture Review (ASR): The ASR, an annual gathering of Filipino sculptors now in its 19th year, showcased the most innovative works of its collection at the fair. Among the year's highlights was Roen Capule, known for his surrealist subjects crafted from metal and molded resin. Wood master Agi Pagkatipunan was back with his highly-imaginative functional art that used only the best local hardwoods. Meanwhile, Jinggoy Salcedo delivered a forest of trees in stainless steel and borosilicate glass. More glass of the highest artistic caliber was delivered from the House of Orlina, led by the patriarch Ramon Orlina, with scions Anna Orlina and Michael Orlina, who themselves had created a following for their distinctive work in the medium. 

Espacio Manila: Espacio Manila had both young and veteran artists side by side. The works of Jerika See and Jean Govinda Marquesto stood side by side with those of Mayi Penaflorida and Roger San Miguel. Penaflorida's doll-faced characters made intriguing wall mates with See's top view slice-of-life scenes, contrasting with San Miguel's traditional figurism and Marquesto's abstraction. 

RDS Gallery: Danny Rayos del Sol's eponymous RDS Gallery was a mainstay at ManilART and a must-visit. He was known for his prolific ostrich egg art and had ventured into the canvas medium, incorporating fresh techniques that blended figurative painting with collage, interspersing traditional subjects with distinct Filipino weaves. 

Jose Tence Ruiz at Galerie Artes: Bogie Ruiz was back with his acerbic social commentary with the work "Neo-Makapil in Blue Croc," alluding to an icon of shame in Philippine history. He was now clad in Birkins and Louboutins, and the visual rant continued. The multimedia painter, sculptor, illustrator, designer, and performance artist never failed to deliver a punch with