Manila’Bang highlights new wave of artists of the ubiquitous ‘here’
Only on its third year, The Manila ’Bang Show has proven to have gained momentum and established itself as an art fair to look forward to every December, with the number of participating artists and galleries swelling even more.
Last year, the art fair lasted three days and already gathered an impressive 25 galleries in one public venue. This year, the East Wing of Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, will be even more packed and sensorially gratifying with 30 galleries participating in the four-day event, Dec. 7-10.
In fact, they could probably have included more but the venue could only accommodate so much. In the end, they had to cut it off once they reached their target of 30—a problem they’re already planning for in the future. But it’s a good dilemma, showing that the program has really generated its roots.
Healthy mix
“We’ve proven we will stay. We’ve proven that we are presenting quality galleries, quality works and quality artists,” Contemporary Artfairs ManilaPH (Camp) president Leonides David told Lifestyle at the launch of The Manila’Bang Show 2023.
The art fair will showcase even more regional galleries this time around. David said they are also bringing in a lot of new featured artists, emphasizing that they are not featuring those who have already been featured before. The fair’s healthy mix of paintings, sculptures, photography, performance art and new media will provide a snapshot of the latest trends and development in the art world.
Digital art will also have a strong presence, with CryptoArtPH partnering with four of the largest Web3 groups in the Philippines to expand discussions on nonfungible tokens (NFTs). There will be a live minting event on the second day, wherein guests can witness how NFTs are uploaded from scratch, said Camp project director PJ Labad.
This year’s theme, “Everything is Contemporary,” has proven to be controversial, with some “purists” unable to accept the “idea of bringing in the past and qualify them as contemporary.” For them, “contemporary” strictly means “now.”
Leading unit
“But with the development in information technology and videoconferencing systems, the past is here, it can be brought here at any one time. It can be brought into the now, the ubiquitous ‘here,’ And they can be an inspiration to a lot of young artists,” said David.
“We’re respecting that they came from the past,” David said. “There are many art movements, they existed in their time. But they can be brought to the now because of information technology and videoconferencing.”
Through these technological advancements, not only the process of art making but also art appreciation is made present. “You just put a device on your eyes, and you can see Van Gogh. You don’t need to fly to see these artworks,” David added. “With the presence of that much development and progress in information technology, even the Global South is now being noticed.”
David views these developments as an equalizing factor, especially the digital scene, which makes it easier for emerging artists to get into the global art scene.
“It provides equalization of opportunities, not just for prominent artists,” he said, “Whether we like it or not, we are not a leading unit for international art. There are only few who have broken down the barrier. But through NFT, the barrier is easily broken down.”
Lowbrow art
Some artists to look forward to are Negros social realism artists Charlie Co and Nunelucio Alvarado, but Manila’Bang is also bringing in more a new wave of artists who specialize in lowbrow art, an art movement that founded on street, graffiti, punk and comics culture.
“We are assigning a very big wall for them so they can be one of the highlights of the art fair,” David said.
There will also be #ArtTalks during the four-day event, which will include discussions on investing and insurances in art, collecting strategies and understanding the art market as a collector (“Sensing art collecting and the art market”); practices and perspectives on responsible art collecting in the local context (“Managing your own art collection”); opportunities and challenges in art mentoring (“Art mentoring and community-based programming”); developing practices of emerging artists and creative individuals, and helpful practical tips on navigating their artistic career (“Navigating the art scene, forging one’s practice”); and contemporary art practices of artists across digital spheres (“Art and digital technology”).
Musical presentations will also keep the event lively, especially during “sleepy periods” that sometimes plague art fairs. Performers include UP Filipiniana Dance Group, DJ Ory, Dominique Casacop, Judith Banal, DJ Muk, Leanne and Naara, Daniel Paringit, DJ JC Llamas and Any Name’s Okay. INQ
