September in the Philippines can be politically contentious largely due to former President Ferdinand Marcos’s declaration of Martial law on September 21. And this turmoil was reflected in many of the art exhibits BluPrint covered for the month. But for this round-up of art exhibits in September, BluPrint highlights artworks that explore the artists’ inner […]
Manila Illustration Fair Partners With UP Fine Arts for Annual Event
After a successful debut , the Manila Illustration Fair gears up for its second year of commemorating illustrators of the country. This year, the fair will be happening between September 13 to 15 at the Parola Gallery Atrium at UP College of Fine Arts (UP CFA).
The event aims to foster a community allowing artists to interact with fellow artists and enthusiasts in a shared space. This year’s event partnered with the Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair to strengthen regional ties even further.
“MIF2024 is dedicated to deepening the appreciation for illustration, an art form that intersects with, yet remains separate from, graphic design and fine art. Illustration transcends the written word, visualizing messages and telling stories in ways that resonate across cultures,” the press release said.
Its choice of the Parola Gallery at UP CFA in Quezon City belies the intent of the organizers to highlight the “importance of enriching Philippine society through art that reflects humanity and cultural heritage.”
“The Parola Art Gallery will be the blank canvas for [this year’s] Manila Illustration Fair,” head organizer Elle Shivers shares. “The team and I have worked closely with the UP College of Fine Arts to ensure that artists and patrons get to experience how illustration can bring people together and witness the endless application of the art form.”
The Art Market
Of course, visitors can anticipate a bustling scene for the three-day event. Its central draw is The Art Market, where event-goers can buy unique pieces from the 30 participating artists.
The artists come from all over the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It showcases the breadth of artistry in the region as a whole. The countries represented also show how illustrator fairs in general help artists network with fellow creatives to broaden their reach.
Participating Filipino artists include Alyssa Babasa, Ev Yu, Kieltokki, Artofpatoo, JCdelic, and Patricia Anne Salonga. Three Thai artists—Ping Sasinan, Nnene.iie, and pi-near—and two Indonesian artists—Chenny Aviana and Bethania Brigitta—will also be involved in The Art Market.
A jury of Filipino and Asian artists shortlisted the pool of the Art Market illustrators.
They are Felix Ng from Singapore, Hiroaki Shono from Japan, and Sunny Gho from Indonesia. The four Filipino jurors include Happy Garaje from Cebu, Raxenne Maniquiz from Bulacan, Studio Dialogo, and Dan Matutina, both from Metro Manila.
Workshops and Activities
Beyond the Art Market, the Fair planned simultaneous activities to occur alongside it for the three days of activity. This includes workshops and lectures, as well as different interactive booths.
Lectures run through the broad concerns of artists everywhere. Day 1 focuses on a discussion catered toward finding one’s style as an artist. A discussion on “studio work and independent practice” dictates the second day. The third focuses on “Building Community through Illustration” and the different avenues circulating through the global illustration fair network.
The workshops throughout the three days include one about illustrating for children by Ang INK, a comics workshop with Rob Cham, screen-painting with Nobody Clothing, and a portfolio review for aspiring illustrators on the first day.
Visitors, meanwhile, can enjoy things like a temporary tattoo booth, an interactive mural wall, live portraits sketching, and a sticker exchange for their own pleasure within the event.
The 2024 Manila Illustration Fair will be happening at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Parola Gallery Atrium at the College of Fine Art from September 13-15. A fee of PhP 100 will be issued for visitors, except for PWDs and students of UP CFA.
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