Art Fair Manila 2017

I've worked in Makati for 2 years and I always hear about this Art Fair that is annually being held at the parking space of The Link located in Ayala. However, I always fail to have a chance to visit it. Come 2017, I found out the dates of this year's fair and I asked Jem to accompany my visit to Manila's very own art fair.

This was a spontaneous date so we weren't really prepared. We met up at around 3PM along EDSA-Ortigas to catch an Ayala bound bus. Since we've been visiting museums in the past, we assumed that it would involved a lot of walking so we prepared our bodies by eating our late lunch before starting our tour.

When we got out of Glorietta, we were astounded by the line of people that has already surrounded The Link. Still, we were not fazed so we joined them. Although the line was quite long, it was still moving pretty fast so we stood there for only 15-20 minutes. The marshals told us that they really don't hold lines on the entrance but they had to control the number of people inside the fair that's why it got to the point of what we experienced.

The fair had a 250-peso regular entrance fee and a 50-peso discounted price for students. Since Jem is technically a student, albeit a post-graduate one, we only paid 50 pesos for his ticket hehe. Another thing is, students of schools in Makati don't have to pay any entrance fees.

The fair is divided in 4 floors. They were also selling maps for 10 pesos but since there were already guidelines in front of the entrance of each floor, we decided to no longer purchase one. We honestly failed to complete the tour since we got inside pretty late and the fair closes at around 9 PM #sad.

Anyway, for the first floor, there were 3 exhibits on display. Along with that, the ticket booth can also be found here as well as the baggage counter. There was also a spot dedicated for a small cafe where people can relax.

Since most of the artworks are located on the floor above, Jem and I decided to head up.

The parking lot was divided to house the exhibits of each artist. There are also artworks that are for sale. When touring around, you'll get to familiarize yourself with the style of each artist and you'll eventually realize that some of them are made by the same artist just displayed on a different corner.

A painting and a painting inside a painting.

This is painting! A PAINTING!

"Pare, pulis ako"

Familiar? Yes, the same artist with works displayed in Pinto Art Museum!

The place was huge and I know I've already shared quite a number of pictures but this is not even half of what you'll get to see inside the fair. And, this was all taken on a single floor! Anyway, the 250-peso entrance fee is definitely worth it. You'll not only get the chance to post some IG-worthy shots, but you'll also support our local artist and get to see what they're passionate about!

I challenge everyone who visit museums and art fairs to not only gaze at how beautiful the works of these artists but try to read the messages they want to convey. By the end of it, you'll be proud of how you're able to connect two, three things together.

Remember, artists don't just incorporate their skills and talents when producing art, they also incorporate their beliefs, thoughts, and even their soul with every masterpiece they create.