Ortigas Art Festival advocates ‘art for all’

Ortigas Art Festival advocates ‘art for all’ | Daily Tribune

Continuing through the pandemic

Organizers are proud of the fact that the festival was continuously being held despite the pandemic.

“What is unique here is that we are celebrating the eighth Ortigas Art Festival, and we encounter a lot of challenges, especially during the pandemic. And to us, this is a milestone because we did not stop, we did not close during the pandemic. Ito lang ang isang art festival na tuloy-tuloy nagkaroon ng exhibit, physical exhibition. So, sa amin, tagumpay ito (This is the only art festival that continuously held exhibits — physical exhibitions. So for us, this is a victory),” artist Renato Habulan, another of the festival consultants, averred.

In his speech during the opening, he recalled that dark period: “Noong 2020, ang Ortigas Art Festival was joined by more than 300 artists and more than 500 artworks. Kasama sa eksibit ang mga Filipino artists na nakabase sa ibang bansa gaya ng New York, Australia, Hong Kong at Singapore. May mga foreign artists din na sumama mula sa Indonesia, Australia, Serbia, Germany at Bangladesh. Natapos ang malaking festival na ito limang araw bago mag-lockdown (In 2020, the Ortigas Art Festival was joined by more than 300 artists and featured over 500 artworks. The exhibit included Filipino artists based in other countries such as New York, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Foreign artists also participated, coming from Indonesia, Australia, Serbia, Germany, and Bangladesh. This big festival concluded just five days before the lockdown).”

He also related, “Ang (the) fourth Ortigas Art Festival ay ginanap noong (was held from) February 24 to March 31, 2021. Again, we were fortunate to have a physical exhibit during the window of total lockdown. The festival expanded to include photography, film and the greater participation in sculpture. In 2022, the fifth Ortigas Art Festival was rescheduled for July to ensure the safety of our attendees, allowing a larger celebration that included the performing arts and fashion design.”

Advocacy to help young artists

According to Habulan, the Ortigas Art Festival is not only a local event, but “has a national scope.”

“Since the start, the festival expanded its participation to include artists from various regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, providing them with a platform and space to showcase their art in the metro. In 2023, we featured artists from Pangasinan, Bulacan and Laguna. In 2024, we showcased artists from Iloilo, Angono and Quezon,” he revealed.

This feature was born out of the advocacy of helping emerging artists, especially local artists and those from the regions outside of Metro Manila, he said.

“‘Yung aming call na ‘art for all’ or ‘art for everyone’ ay nagbubukas sa mga kabataang artist kahit baguhan sila. Walang espasyo na magbibigay sa ‘yo kung bata kang artist. So, ito, Ortigas Art Festival, ay bukas sa mga kabataang artist mula sa Metro Manila, sa regions, IloIlo, Bacolod, Pangasinan. We’ve been exhibiting their works for eight years (Our call for ‘art for all’ or ‘art for everyone’ opens doors for young artists, even beginners. There are very few spaces that welcome you if you’re a young artist. So, the Ortigas Art Festival is open to young artists from Metro Manila and the regions like Iloilo, Bacolod, and Pangasinan. We’ve been exhibiting their works for eight years),” Habulan said.

He explained: “So, we go from…like the Agos Art Studio, we have the art caravan, we go out to different provinces and look for artists, you know, look for young artists, struggling artists that are very good. You know, wala silang… iyong walang kakayahan para ituloy nila iyung kanilang sining, walang espasyo para ipakita iyong kanilang sining, at walang kakayahan para i-develop ang art nila. So, itong ginagawa namin, mga artist initiative, tulad ng Agos Studio, ng Linangan (Art Residency), at ng iba pang mga artist-run initiative (You know, those who don’t have the means to pursue their art, who lack the space to showcase their work, and don’t have the resources to develop their craft. So, that is what we do, the artist initiatives like Agos Studio, Linangan [Art Residency], and other artist-run initiatives).”

The works of these emerging artists are given the platform to reach a wider audience, and the audience are also afforded easy access to these works and other forms of art at the Ortigas Art Festival.

“You don’t have to pay to come in and look at the art. You can just come in during lunch hour or whenever. And the artists, they don’t have to pay to exhibit. So, sayang, if they exhibit and they don’t sell anything, they’re out. So, here, everything is free. We’re trying to democratize art,” Mirasol said.

A platform for different experiences

The visual arts exhibit remains to be at the heart of the festival. This year, three art exhibits showcase the works of artists presented by different galleries including Art Circle, Art Point, Jean & Jaz Gallerie, Nami Art, and Historia Art Gallery, as well as of artists from artists’ groups and initiatives, Angono Artists Collective, Linangan Art Residency, and Pasig Art Club. The exhibits also feature works by artists from the host city of San Juan, Melvin John B. Ante and Danielle Ortiz, together with Shine Vitto from Mindoro and Raul Roco, Jr.

A notable feature of the festival is the photography exhibits presented by Redlab Gallery and Born in Film.

The exhibit “Chromatic Realms” featured the works of Rommel Bundalian, Jijo de Guzman, Arlene Donaire, Joel H. Garcia, Bien Gutierrez, Ricky Ladia, Edwin Loyola, Cris Magsino, Win Magsino, Abi Miguel, Jay Tablante and Raymond Tanhueco. Additionally, this section also has a display of old cameras to celebrate a century of the device and the Photo Nation, a wall covered with thousands of photographs from photographers from around the country and the world.