The ICA Art Fair happened from November 21 to 23 at W High Street in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). This inaugural art fair was organized as a charity event for the benefit of the ICA Alumni Association Scholarship Foundation.
“This one-of-a-kind charity event will feature a curated selection of leading contemporary artists, displaying works across diverse genres and styles. Proceeds from the ICA Art Fair will benefit the ICA Alumni Association Scholarship Foundation, helping to provide valuable support to the community,” the fair said in a press release.
The ICA Alumni Association Scholarship Foundation funds educational initiatives for the Immaculate Conception Academy, where the art fair gets its name. Their advocacy works towards funding financial aid programs to students, as well as various infrastructure needs for the school and its community.
The art collection presented in the ICA Art Fair was curated by Glenn Cuevo. It showcases a mix of traditional and contemporary art, bringing together a variety of artists from a variety of movements to take in the breadth of Philippine art history.
The fair dedicated whole sections of their space to venerated artists like Fernando Amorsolo, Ang Kiukok, and Malang Santos. “The Collector’s Vault” section, specifically, works as a summary of our country’s artistic heritage. But the spotlight still comes to newer, more experimental artists like James Clar. Clar’s light and aluminium sculptures, “Space Folding” and “Magwheel Night,” were shown at the fair.
Of interest for many was “Magwheel Night,” which exists as a collaboration with Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz. The multiangular geometric shape, meant to look like the rims of a semi-truck, sits on an aluminium sheet deformed by weights dropped by Diaz.
More sculptures were shown during the event, including a whole section dedicated to unique sculpture work called “Bold Forms: Unfolding Infinite Space and Depth.” There, works sculpted from metal, glass, aluminium, and other assortment of materials were given space to be shown around in all their glory.
Other contemporary artists featured in the event include Micaela Benedicto, who utilizes mirrored steel to create fragmented, dimensional structures that play with form and life’s impermanence. Works by Annie Cabigting, Maria Angelica Tan, and others also get their own spaces to shine within the fair’s space.
Multiple esteemed artists also graced the scene at the days that ICA Art Fair ran. Featured artists for the fair included artists Winna Go, Luis Antonio Santos, and Marina Cruz. Lianben himself included a showing of eleven new artworks to be sold at the fair. During the second day of the event, architect Anthony Nazareno discussed the intersection of design and art.
Much of the art showcased in the exhibit ended up being sold. There was an especially popular backroom area where many benefactors found unique artworks to buy for themselves. The organizers hope that the fair’s ability to connect artworks to prospective buyers will help support the educational initiatives of the ICA Alumni Association Scholarship Foundation.
“By attending the fair, guests will help fund initiatives that support education, health, and innovation at the Immaculate Conception Academy. This event underscores the fair’s commitment to building a better future through the power of creativity and collective action,” the fair said.
Photos by Ed Simon.
Related reading: Art Fair Philippines 2024 Opens To The Public This Weekend
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