Art Fair 2026 reminds us why art still matters

Perhaps more than Valentine, February has become synonymous with the Art Fair. Now on its 14th year, it has become a permanent fixture on many an art lover’s calendar. Call it a yearly opportunity to really dig deep into the wild imaginings, deep musings and flights of fancy of the artists whose works are put on display. Forty galleries, and then some, strong, running the gamut of classic art, modern masters, through-provoking installation pieces, and a hefty serving of pop art. Call it a yearly opportunity to really dig deep into the wild imaginings, deep musings and flights of fancy of the artists whose works are put on display. But in a world whose focus is torn between political turmoil and economic instability, it does beg the question if art, and beauty as you see it, still has a place in the world, or even matter.

From what we’ve seen, Art Fair Philippines 2026, themed “Community Building Through Art, Digital Alchemy and Reimagining Philippine Identity,” proves that art may be one of the few things keeping the human experience together for all our sakes. Judging solely from the lines that go around the corner, there could be some truth to that.

For one, moving from one gallery to another is akin to a living art history lesson. Revered masters Jose Joya, Solomon Saprid, Ang Kiu Kok and H.R. Ocampo give us a glimpse of a point-of-view of an older world. The late Constancio Bernardo, considered by Fernando Amorsolo as a protégé back in the ‘50s, found himself as an artist out of time; his abstract pieces would be a better fit in these modern times, spurring his family to showcase his work anew.

Ensconced at the center of Galerie Stephanie is a showcase of a legacy passed on – seen through the shimmering glass sculptures of Ramon Orlina and his two children, but Anna’s pieces are whimsical and bright, while Michael’s play with a prism of colors.

Among all the exhibitions, there were two that stood out, albeit polar opposites of each other. Carlo Tanseco ‘s “Ibang Label” splashed adages on how to live a meaningful life on outsized ‘everyday items’ – pencils, paint cans and even a lechon sauce bottle. He put his indignation on display with the help of Jose Rizal juxtaposed on an eye chart — to help you see clearly, perhaps.

The other one was Ambie Abaño’s “…beyond body…” which explored the cycle of life, executed in wood, paper and print. It begins simply enough, metamorphosis seen as butterflies on the wall. But it ends with a hand around your heart with a massive piece etched in wood of a figure covered in a blanket. It almost hurts to see it, yet it won’t be so easy to turn away. Best you can do is feel your way through it.

One thing to consider before you trek over to the Art Fair – there will be stairs. Lots of it. The galleries and displays are spread out from the fifth to the ninth floor, then on the 11th. There is a lift, but standing in wait for one is a waste of your precious time. Just wear those comfortable shoes and get those steps (and stairs) in.

Art Fair 2026 feels like a quiet storm held within four walls and six floors. As you move from space to space, you feel the steady stream of ideas accompanying you as though the wind as it carries with it the ideas, imaginings and maybe even delusions of the artists of whose work hangs on its walls. Each one has its own story and a unique point of view. It speaks of how they perceive their own identity. Will we understand all of it? Maybe. Maybe not. But that’s the beauty of art. No one is required to agree on what is good or bad. Because art is personal. The work will resonate with all of us, some of us, or in those rare cases, with no one. That’s just the way it is, and just the way it’s supposed to work.

The reason why art really matters is that when we are standing in front of it, it teaches us to pause, take it in and, more urgently, feel. To really dig deep and think about why a piece of art speaks to us or not. Listen even, figuratively speaking. In a world that is as chaotic and noisy enough as it is, art holds space for stillness, for us to just be.

Art Fair 2026 runs until Sunday, 8 February at Circuit Makati. Ticket prices are at P750 for a regular day pass; P500 for students, senior citizens, PWDs, and P300 for students and teachers from Makati with a valid ID.