Today, Monday, 09 February 2026, the ALT Collective welcomed journalists and art enthusiasts to WHYNoT, 4/F Karrivin Studios, Makati, for a press preview of ALT ART 2026. Ahead of its official opening at SMX Manila Halls 1 & 2 from 12 to 15 February, the gathering revealed the heart of the exhibition: the human connections that make art thrive.

For the nine galleries behind ALT—Artinformal, Blanc, The Drawing Room, Galleria Duemila, Finale Art File, MO_Space, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, and West Gallery—art is never just an object to be displayed. It is a living dialogue between creator and viewer, built on trust, long-standing relationships, and a shared devotion to craft. As Tina Fernandez of Artinformal reflected, “Art’s value is in how many eyes can see it.” The galleries do more than showcase works. They nurture artists, follow their processes, and understand the stories behind each piece.

Fernandez emphasizes that value is fluid, not dictated by price tags or prestige alone. Some works are valuable because they resonate personally, linger in memory, or provoke a strong response. “The worst thing an artwork can do is inspire indifference,” she says. Through ALT ART 2026, that energy—the exchange between art and audience—is central. Visitors are invited to slow down, observe, and immerse themselves fully in the materiality of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, installations, performance, and sound, encountering art as an experience, not just an object.