MANILA, Philippines — Following its successful debut run in 2018, the Ortigas Art Festival is returning this February at the Estancia Mall—now more diversified than ever with artists and artists groups hailing from inside and outside Metro Manila.
From February 20 to March 3, over 130 artists from Luzon and Visayas will gather under one roof. This is a new and exciting development for organizers at Ortigas & Co.
Drawing inspiration from fellow artist Renato Habulan, Helen Mirasol curates this year’s exhibit. She utilizes Estancia Mall’s Bridgeway for the independent artists and a dedicated exhibition area for the artists groups.
With the goal of connecting these artists to the public, Ortigas Art Festival offers free admission to festival goers.
Meet this year’s roster of featured artists and artist groups set to showcase their unique and original works at the upcoming Ortigas Art Festival 2019:
Four featured artists
1. Bern Wong for photography
Bern Wong has captured breathtaking landscapes of her travels in Bhutan, Iceland, Mexico and her hometown the Philippines. Released
“As an artist, photography is the medium that moves me to freely express my inner voice, allowing me to communicate the depths of my memories and emotions,” says photographer Bern Wong.
She has captured breathtaking landscapes of her travels in Bhutan, Iceland, Mexico and her hometown the Philippines.
“Rather than capturing a picturesque postcard of these places, I aim to capture instead the power in their simplicity and universality—distilling places to a calm and contemplative mood. I am thus drawn to expressing the minimal, abstract, and even the surreal qualities of the places I dwell in.”
2. Benjie Cabrera for printmaking
A work of Benjie Cabrera, an award-winning printmaker that specializes in engraving with the use of burin, which is a steel carving tool with a wooden handle. Released
Benjie Cabrera is a printmaker that specializes in engraving with the use of burin, which is a steel carving tool with a wooden handle.
According to Asia Contemporary Art, Cabrera trained at the Atelier Contre Point in Paris. He finished his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas and earned his Master of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines.
He is also a multi-awarded printmaker. In 2001, he won the grand prize at the Open Fine Print Competition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Early in his career, he won in graphic arts category in the 1978 AAP Annual Competition.
He has represented the Philippines in international printmaking competitions and exhibits in Japan and South Korea.
3. Darwin "Japat" Guevarra for oil painting
Japat Guevarra found his métier in grounding his concept arton life and social realism. Released
Hailing from Taytay, Rizal, Darwin “JAPAT” Guevarra is a self-taught artist inspired by works of the masters, as well as his peers. Experience taught him well, but he was further honed by art competitions, which not only challenged him to be at the top of his game, but also allowed him to see the various points of view of other fellowartists.
He won the grand prize in the Fine Art Category of the Shiekha Manal Signature Art competition at Dubai Ladies in 2007. He was also given the Emerging Artist Award from 2012 to 2013.
Eventually, he found his métier in grounding his concept arton life and social realism. Guevarra now lives in Laguna where he continues to feed his curiosity and develop his technique further through painting, sculpting, photography, and experimenting with scrap and molded materials.
4. Richard Buxani for sculpture
Richard Papa Buxani is a Filipino-Indian multidisciplinary artist who was raised in Manila.He took up Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA), University of Santo Tomas. While he unknowingly encountered his first influences in art, he initially didn’t pursue art practices after college.
In 2009, Richard met sculptor Ronald Castrillo who mentored him in brass sculpture. This was when his art took its turn.He realized that his true calling is in the creative process of three-dimensional works.His style utilizes new materials, found objects and wood.
Eight exhibiting groups
1. The Guild
The Guild is a group with diverse artists, with whom Renato Habulan instilled the passion for art without imposing his personal style. Released
Renato Habulan established The Guild in the late ‘90s. The renowned social realist envisioned a group with diverse artists from watercolorists to oil painters, and a sculptor and a photographer. Habulan, or Mang Ato to members, instilled the passion for art, never imposing his personal style.
2. Association of Pinoyprintmakers Inc.
The Association of Pinoyprintmakers (formerly known as Philippine Association of Printmakers) was established in 1968 with the pioneering efforts of Manuel Rodriguez Sr. along with avid practitioners of printmaking in the country.
In 2002, the association received the Alab ng Haraya Lifetime Achievement Award for its significant contribution to the visual arts in the country. To this day, the AP is dedicated to its mission of bringing art to the people through printmaking workshops.
3. Banta Artist Initiative
Banta Artist Initiative is a loose artist collective founded to build a bridge between art and society, with contemporary art serving humanitarian purposes. Released
Banta Artist Initiative is a loose artist collective founded to build a bridge between art and society, with contemporary art serving humanitarian purposes. It is inspired by Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to take part freely in the cultural life of the community, [and] to enjoy the arts.”
The collective also works to address current political issues by means of showcasing socio-political themed artworks in a traveling road show where we can reach the widest and most diverse range of people.
4. Himbon
Inspired by the power of community in sparking change, Himbon was established in September 2017. Its aim is to establishing a collective of Ilonggo contemporary artists connected through organized exhibitions, meaningful exchanges and community projects.
5. AgawXena
Founded in 2008, AgawXena is the brainchild of a group of artists who were bonded by friendship, passion and love for the arts. Released
Founded in 2008, AgawXena is the brainchild of a group of artists who were bonded by friendship, passion and love for the arts, all hailing from the Technological University of the Philippines. Artists from the Philippine Women’s University, the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas later joined.
The diversified backgrounds solidified the group’s zeal to make an impact in the art world.
6. Hilaga Sculptors Collective
Founded in 2018, Hilaga Sculptors is a collective of sculptors based in Muntinlupa, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon and Batangas.
The collective was established in response to the need for sculptor representation in art shows and festivals within Metro Manila. It bridges the gap between galleries and artists, as well as pairs artists to projects suited for their specific practices.
7. BiskegPangasinan
Biskeg assert their presence and put into question the social conditions that shape individual and collective narratives. Released
Biskeg (which means “strong” in Pangasinan) asserts their presence in the art world with works that depict, investigate, and put into question the social conditions that shape individual and collective narratives.
All figurative artists, Biskeg members approach these concerns through a variety of styles and techniques, ranging from pop surrealism to hyperrealism to Gothic realism.
8. AgosKulay
AgosKulay interpret nature through vividly traditional and modern styles watercolor. Released
AgosKulay is a group of watercolor enthusiasts who banded together in February 1992 to raise funds for the Philippine High School for the Arts and to popularize the most challenging art medium, the watercolor.
Artist members interpret nature through vividly traditional and modern styles watercolor. Despite the distinction in their approaches, they are all ordained to have one vision for their group— give reverence to the different colors of nature which give them perpetual inspiration.
Art workshops
For an interactive festival, Ortigas & Co. also holds demos and workshops for art patrons and enthusiasts alike.
Catch featured artist Benjamin Cabrera’s Print Making Demo on February 23. This will be followed by Watercolor Demos by Peter Sutcliffe on February 24 and March 2. On March 3, Renato Habulan holds a Paint Alla Prima with the Master. All events happen every 1:30 p.m.
Admission to the 2019 Ortigas Art Festival is free. Catch it at Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons, Pasig City from February 20 to March 3.
For updates, visit follow www.ortigasmalls.com/estancia, or follow Estancia at Capitol Commons in Facebook: www.facebook.com/EstanciaPH or Instagram @estanciaph.