Go on a romantic stroll through art this weekend

Another art exhibit at the Paseo-Villar underpass —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Those who were strolling, perhaps with a date, on Valentine’s Day around Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City may have been surprised by somewhat unusual but definitely artful additions to the landscaped urban park.

The big acacia tree at the center now has myriad red and white strips of barrier tape dripping from its branches all the way to the ground. The façade of the adjacent amphitheater and green wall has an LED screen that shows captivating images and a visual projection of what looks like a moving blue ocean.

Look, an art exhibit at the Legazpi underpass!

These are just two of the offerings in “10 Days of Art,” an annual initiative by Ayala Land that aims to celebrate the best in Philippine contemporary art. It coincides with Art Fair Philippines’ change of venue this year to Ayala Triangle Gardens. After its Feb. 14 opening, “10 Days of Art” will go on until Feb. 23, also the closing date of Art Fair’s three-day run.

The public art displays are grouped into three clusters: Ayala Triangle Gardens, the areas within Ayala Center and Legazpi Park, and Circuit Makati commercial complex in the city’s southern part. They can be easily located with the help of the map, which is downloadable from the Make It Makati Facebook page.

A Briccio Santos sculpture as public art

Visiting all clusters in an activity called Art Walk is the best way to fully appreciate “10 Days of Art.” You can do it in one day by carefully planning how you get from one location to another. Just bear in the mind that some of the artworks are found in malls, so mall hours are observed.

Doing the Art Walk can be the celebration you and your loved one weren’t able to have on Valentine’s Day. It can also be a nice extension to the celebration you both had, but now including your family members and friends. You can do it solo, too. After all, February is not only the love month but also National Arts Month.

“Rewilding’s” video art projection looks like a moving ocean set on the façade of the amphitheater and green wall at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.

Art Walk

Draping the acacia tree at Ayala Triangle Gardens with red and white strips of barrier tape was how a Spanish artist, who goes by the moniker SpY Studio, created the art installation titled “Barrier Tape 2.” It elicits wonder by the sheer number of strips used and the singular shape and unified sound it makes.

The twin video artworks at the amphitheater and green wall make up the “Rewilding” exhibition curated by Jun Sabayton. It brings together the works of artists and animators Bjorn Calleja, Ivan Despi, Pauline Despi, Jo Gregorio, Jeff Hazel Ombrete, Peter Daniel Palanas, and Cherylee Sng.

Despi told Lifestyle at the launch on Feb. 13 that ecology inspired them to come up with “Rewilding.” It’s about nature taking over urban spaces, allowing it to grow in its raw form.

An image flashing from the LED screen as part of “Rewilding” exhibit

Gregorio explained that the images shown in the animated video art projections reflect how they see nature. For his part, he was drawn to small plants that grow in crevices and tiles that seem unattractive and even unwanted.

Pauline Despi said that participating in “10 Days of Art” is a great way to promote video projection in the Philippines, as other countries have already been putting on large-scale projections. She also took the opportunity to “explore and play around with landscape and architecture” in Makati City.

“I really appreciate art that is able to reach people, being accessible and as entertainment to people,” she pointed out. “It’s something that teaches people to appreciate the beauty from the ordinary. It makes people happy. Their mood changes when they see art.”

Gregorio noted that people at the park were already taking selfies with their artworks, and it made him very happy, too.

A piece from Briccio Santos’ “The Sentinels” collection of sculptures displayed at the Legazpi Active Park and Seda Residencies Makati

More attractions

The Ayala Triangle Gardens cluster encompasses the Legazpi and Paseo-Villar underpasses. The Legazpi underpass, found at Ayala Avenue, hosts the digital exhibit by the photographers and artists of the Fotomoto PH group headed by curator Tom Epperson.

Another group of artists, the TLYR Collective, took over the Paseo-Villar underpass with an exhibit called “Walk With Me.” It’s described as a collection of pieces that “incorporates augmented reality,” inviting audiences to “contemplate their own identities and experiences in the context of a rapidly changing technological landscape.”

“Barrier Tape 2” by the Spanish artist known as SpY Studio, at the Ayala Triangle Gardens

Over at the Ayala Center and Legazpi Park, the theme is introspective journey within the city. It showcases a rich variety of genres designed to ignite moments of self reflection. Briccio Santos’ “The Sentinels” exhibit is the focal point at the space between Legazpi Park and Seda Residences Makati. It features four sculptures that evoke the elements and energy of spiritual guardians.

The shopping malls at the Ayala Center host exhibits, too. Greenbelt 3’s Sunken Park is the venue for another Fotomoto PH exhibit, “Camera Obscura,” an installation that projects sharp, bright images onto the floor.

Glorietta has Kim Borja’s “The Words You Speak Become the Home You Live By,” designed to serve as an invocation, invitation, and a quiet warning on the power of language. It also brings to light the silent struggles of mental health.

Kim Borja’s “The Words You Speak Become the Home You Live By” exhibit at the Glorietta mall

At One Ayala Mall, ESL Chen’s “Time Explosion” displays various portraits displayed on the second, third, and fourth levels. There’s also a large-scale live painting on canvas scheduled for Feb. 15 to 16. Chen, a self-taught photographer and founding member of FotomotoPH, explores themes of paradox, time, and impulse in his work, offering a personal yet relatable visual narrative.

Multimedia

The Circuit Makati cluster brings art beyond borders through internationally-acclaimed works and artists. Two stunning works strategically positioned within Ayala Malls Circuit will be unveiled on Feb. 19.

Jefre presents “Talking Heads” with lead exhibition technician Ian Gines. This large-scale multimedia installation features suspended plastic vacuum-shaped heads with words of affirmation in different languages and lit by colorful neon lights. The work celebrates the individual and the indispensable part they play in the multitude, mixing the universal and the personal.

The artists behind “Rewilding” exhibit: Ivan Despi, Pauline Despi, Jun Sabayton, Peter Palanas, Jo Gregorio, Cherylee Sng, and Jeff Ombrete

Meanwhile, French-Filipino artist Olivia d’Aboville introduces “Wonderland of Lights,” a mesmerizing installation that interweaves organic textures with synthetic materials. A graduate with honors from ESAA Duperré, d’Aboville uses innovative textile techniques, incorporating natural fibers and recycled materials to create a luminous spectacle. Her piece, which explores environmental themes while redefining urban art, is brought to life at Circuit Makati in collaboration with Art House.

Circuit Makati will also host multiple events throughout the Art Fair season. On Feb. 18, Fotomoto will honor its artist in residence at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater’s second floor gallery.

It’s going to be 10 days full of art. Who knows, it might even be extended.