More than 170 artists from different parts of the Philippines gathered for the recent vernissage for this year's Manila'Bang Show, the biggest art extravaganza in the South, this time bringing life to the 2,000-sq.m. expansion wing in Alabang's Festival Mall.

With the theme Contemporary Art: The Manila Way, the ongoing event "intends to highlight Manila as a nexus of a vibrant and expansive arts landscape that extends across the archipelago."

"There are only two major art fairs in the Philippines. Hopefully, there will be more art fairs so that artists can enjoy the platforms available to them… Art fairs are a bigger venue for showcasing Filipino art," Manila'Bang executive director Atty. David Leonides said in an exclusive interview with Daily Tribune.

This year, Manila'Bang hosts "25 exhibitors and artworks by over 300 artists," according to information from its website.

"Some of this year's highlights include special exhibitions like New Wave, the inclusion of Art Toys and NFTs in the fair, and two special curated exhibitions: "Off-grid" an immersive installation by Mark Salvatus curated by Alain Zedrick Camiling, and "Material Interest, Alternative Space" a group exhibition featuring Jan Balquin, Joseph Gabriel, Christina Lopez, and Eva Yu and Vik Laugo of O.I. Research Partners curated by art historian and critic, Carlos Quijon Jr.

"There is also a series of accessible art talks that can be enjoyed by all. Following last year's #ArtTalks, Manila'Bang presents Art Talks: Interchange. These talks are intended to complement the fairgoer's experience through panel discussions that expound on current art trends and emerging art practices," it is said in an article by Marz Aglipay.

A plethora of art subjects are covered by the featured Filipino artists to appeal to various tastes, but here are some whose works piqued our interest.