Daily TribuneThe Sari-Sari Sabi-Sabi exhibit by Carlo Tanseco was one of the most impressive displays that drew large crowds. Imagine entering an area adorned with enormous packing of your favorite delicacies from childhood, such as Cloud9, Chippy, White Rabbit, Chocnut and Nagaraya, but with a unique twist.
Sari-Sari Sabi-Sabi exhibit by Carlo Tanseco was one of the most impressive displays that drew large crowds.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ART FAIR PH
Mot Qua Tac
‘Frequencies’
‘Artificial Wonderland’
‘KAKAKOMPYUTER MO YAN’
Artworks from Gallerie Stephanie.
‘sining tahanan 2025’
February is all about celebrating National Arts Month in the Philippines, so it just makes sense that it ends with one of the biggest art events in the country — Art Fair Philippines.
This annual art extravaganza brings together art lovers, curious onlookers and even the occasional crowd for a weekend of creativity in Makati.
This year, Art Fair PH switched things up with a brand-new venue at Ayala Triangle.
From specially commissioned works to gallery exhibits, film screenings and thought-provoking art talks, this edition was all about breaking boundaries and making art more accessible than ever.
I couldn’t help but believe that art is truly something else as soon as I entered the fair. Something about witnessing how innovative brains push boundaries causes you to pause and view the world in a slightly new light.
The “Sari-Sari Sabi-Sabi” exhibit by Carlo Tanseco was one of the most impressive displays that drew large crowds. Imagine entering an area adorned with enormous packs of your favorite delicacies from childhood, such as Cloud9, Chippy, White Rabbit, Chocnut and Nagaraya, but with a unique twist. Tanseco replaced the wording with affirmations instead of the typical branding. Haw Flakes transformed into Heaven Blessed, while Chippy became Just Be Happy.
Tanseco perfectly captured nostalgia and good vibes in Sari-Sari Sabi-Sabi. It took me back to the days when life felt simpler — when the biggest dilemma was choosing between Piattos or Nova, and the ultimate reward was a snack from the sari-sari store. That kind of energy just hits different, like those lazy afternoons when I whip up some pancit canton for merienda and catch up on my favorite Filipino drama.
If you’ve ever been scolded for spending too much time on the computer (relatable), then “KAKAKOMPYUTER MO YAN” would hit different. This digital art exhibition by 21 Filipino artists transformed Pisonet computers into a portal of chaotic genius. Think internet mythology, an elegy for Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz and St. Peter (yes, really), a simulated torrent client and a shrine to Onel de Guzman (a.k.a. the creator of the ILOVEYOU virus). It was weird, nostalgic and very much a love letter to the digital chaos with which we grew up.
The exhibit explored how the internet has shaped Third-World narratives, touching on exploitation, queerness, appropriation and bootlegging. All of it was contained within a karaoke machine setup, because, let’s be real, nothing is more Filipino than art mixed with karaoke.
While the crowd favorites drew much attention, some standout exhibits deserved a shoutout — especially Frequencies by Chill, my personal favorite, which offered a mesmerizing sonic art experience that made sound truly tangible, Artificial Wonderland by Reynold de la Rosa and The Night Explorer by Kapitan.
Beyond the exhibits, Art Fair PH 2025 brought in heavy-hitting artists from across the globe, with exhibitors from Austria, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Spain. The much-anticipated ArtFairPH/Projects featured a stellar lineup of Filipino contemporary artists, including Manny Garibay, Manuel Ocampo, Goldie Poblador, Ryan Rubio and Jezzel Wee. The digital section continued to blur the lines between art and tech, with immersive installations by Chia Amisola “(KAKAKOMPYUTER MO YAN)” and Isaiah Cacnio’s mesmerizing motion graphics.
Meanwhile, ArtFairPH/Talks & Film served up insightful discussions in partnership with Ateneo Art Gallery and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines. Topics ranged from digital collecting to contemporary art movements, featuring insights from Larry’s List, a global art market authority. The film program spotlighted Kono Basho by J Pacena, a visual exploration of identity and heritage, and The F.A.T. Boys!! by Drew Milo, which followed two travelers on an artistic and environmental journey through the Philippines.
Makati became an extended gallery with 10 Days of Art, featuring outdoor sculptures by Briccio Santos, immersive installations by Kim Borja in Glorietta, and JEFRË’s Talking Heads at Circuit Makati. The Legazpi Underpass and Greenbelt 3 Sunken Park transformed into dynamic exhibition spaces, proving that art isn’t just confined to galleries — it’s everywhere.
Art Fair Philippines 2025 was about nostalgia, reinvention and pushing creative boundaries. Whether you came for the paintings, the digital installations, or just the Instagrammable moments, you left with something — an idea, a feeling, or even just the realization that, yeah, art really is something else.
