Manilart 2010 showcases the best from Pinoy art galleries

We are not an art-buying nation. Once in a while, though, there are events that encourage art appreciation with a view towards selling and purchasing of artworks, and Manilart is hands down the largest of its kind. Only on its second year, the contemporary art fair organized by Bonafide Art Galleries Organization and the National Commission on Culture and Arts was even more successful than last year's fair, which was attended by over 5,000 visitors.

This year, there were over 50 participating galleries, special shows, and free lectures at the three-day event from July 30 to August 1 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Manilart 2010 opened with a special Friday night gala that President Aquino was expected to attend, but even though PNoy did not drop by (although he was at the convention center the next day for another event in the building), the fair was a lively one. Visitors engaged in animated conversation at the different galleries. An equally if not more lively discussion went on at the event's Facebook page, where photos of some artworks on exhibit were posted along with updates about the event. There was also a 50 percent discount on the ticket price for Facebook users who shared the event on their profiles. While some visitors walked around looking for the perfect piece of art to bring home, whether their first or the latest in a growing collection, many more walked around simply to look at the artworks. Everyone got their fill of some of the best Filipino artists showcased by the leading art galleries, including Manila Contemporary, which featured an all-woman show of works by Amy Aragon, Ringo Bunoan, Valeria Cavestany, Brenda Fajardo, and MM Yu. Galerie Zimmerman Kratochwill was a powerful crowd-drawer with its looped video of the controversial Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch's performance of Aktion. Drawing inspiration from the ancient sacrifice ritual, it is an arresting piece involving a freshly slain animal, paint, grapes, and actors shedding their garments which become the final artwork. Visitors would gravitate towards the strange piece and inevitably watch the performance, despite its grotesque nature. A few steps away, Buen Abrigo et al filled a giant canvass with their work "Hepe ng Lansangan," a graffiti art demonstration. On the same stage the next day, the Manilart 10 Auction was held. Organized by Vita Sarenas of Finale Art File, the auction includes works by Pipo Alido, Felix Bacolor, Bembol Dela Cruz, Carlo Gabuco, Geraldine Javier, Robert Langenegger, Keiye Miranda, Redd Nacpil, Ian Quirante, Wire Tuazon, Liv Romualdez Vinluan and Paulo Romualdez Vinluan. The fair also featured the Business Mirror Art Lectures which had the following topics and speakers:

• "The Ateneo Art Awards" by Ramon Lerma Jr., curator of the Ateneo Art Gallery
• "Legal Issues in Expression" by Atty. Trixie C. Angeles
• "Public Domain, Private Hell: A Study of Images in Contemporary Art" by Cid Reyes, veteran art book author, art critic and visual artist
• "SPARKS: Illuminating the Filipino Self" by visual artist Jose Tence Ruiz
• "The Preservation and Conservation of Works of Art on Paper" by Alexandra Bothello, conservator of rare books, photographs and works of art on paper
• "Artwork Photography" by Ross Capili, professional photographer and visual artist
• "AFM - Philippine Artist Residency, Residence Program for Filipinos in France" by Deanna Ongpin-Recto, president of Alliance Francaise De Manille and Stephane Doutrelant, director of Alliance Francaise de Manille

The last day, August 1, highlighted an on-the-spot painting session in "Sunday with the Saturday Group." The saying "around the next corner, a piece of art is going to change your life" is more than applicable at Manilart 2010. It could be Jenny Cortez's calamity-inspired functional piece "Ondoy-an" or Danny Rayos Del Sol's decorative "Hapunan III." It could also be one of Valeria Cavestany's intricately detailed crosses from her mixed media installation "In and Out of the Booz," but whatever catches your fancy, it's sure to be worth it. - YA, GMANews.TV