It was my first time attending Art Fair and my expectations of an art fair was exceeded by the actual art fair itself. These are my experiences upon visiting the Art Fair.

1. Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea

A. The title of the gallery is in Italian language and is translated in English as “Other world art Contemporary”. I became interested with the gallery since there were few people visiting on it and some were just passing by it. I want to know why people aren’t much drawn about the things inside the gallery. I decided to choose this gallery for I really connected to its art works.

This was the art work that is considerably welcoming its visitors, for it was one of the most eye-catching artwork in the gallery. Artists in the gallery includes Phyllis zaballero, Grecho iniel cruz, Richard Dela Cruz, Carlo Aranton, Olivia D’aboville, Niccolo Jose, Fritz Herrera, J. Consunji, Lenorer.s.lim, Betsy westendorp, Nile pobadora, Jerome Choco, Riel Hilario, Kim Jerome Santiago, Roberto Feleo, Lester Amacio, Nestor orante vinluan, Louis Boudreault Reg Yuson, and Roger Rishab Tibon. Bellow are some of the art works inside the gallery.

There was no definite theme in the gallery but I can say that it compromises art works which are relatable to daily situation may it be struggles or issues in life. Most artworks are uses humans as subject staring to a viewer. This gallery is considerable more serious in nature than the other galleries which showcase fancy art works. It can be said that it is less fancy than the other galleries for few among those bunch of youth came inside the gallery to view the art works deeply.

B. Out of the pictures inside the gallery, I choose this 3 artworks because they really captured my attention.

Windows within windows XIII, September in back bay, looking in

This art work was made by Phyliss Zaballero and he made it through acrylic on wood and canvas. Looking at the right painting, I realized that it was an outside window view. I look at it deeply that I didn’t notice that the wood was also shaped as the usual wooden window of a typical home. I guess the location wasn’t in the Philippines as the outside view shows that there is a water supply/pump which are considerably not in the streets around the Philippines.

Looking it alone calms my mood, the painting shows a simple and a comfortable setting. Trees, the choice of silk for the curtain, the plant, the bird, the carpet inside, and all of it considering the choice of color. All resembles calmness and feeling of home. I can say that the artist had been reminiscing its moments in this location or as if he wants calmness and peace out of this days pure of crime, hatred and chaotic environment.

The painting interacted with me in a way that it made me feel like I was inside the home and the view outside was comfortable and calm. I got easily connected with the picture. In the other hand, the other painting made me feel like I was an outsider peeping inside a house.

Sealed and Censored

This artwork was made by Richard Dela Cruz and was made by mixed materials. The subject in the painting was blindfolded and have a face with a complexion of a steel which can be considerably marks of scar. Scars that were in shape with steel barriers. Her mouth is close and she is hiding her breast from being exposed. She have this soft silk blanket which can be associated with bed since it was like a blanket. Her hair is not normal, they are like ropes of steel and their tip are attached to the object in her back whether it is a wooden plank, or a steel. I can say that she is captured for half of her body (thighs to toe) is in a container.

I can say that this picture signifies a tortured women and one that is a victim of rape or other worst kind of pain she acquired from a cruel person. This painting shows and signifies that a woman is weak, and can easily be a target of torture and or crime. The way she looks (closed mouth and hiding breast) signifies that she is not happy and confident with what is happening to her. Sadly, most women experience harassment from anyone at any point of their lives and it is sad to say that some guys think it is appropriate to catcall anyone. Furthermore, younger and younger generations are brought up to the idea of sex and are cognitively affected by the actions of adults which they then practice anyway. Sad to say that the young generation is being poisoned with the fact that women are naturally born to please men.

At the back of the painting, a more shocking and a more awakening painting can be found. This picture shows two ladies captured in different cells and are seem to be in need of help. The woman on the other picture is blindfolded, while the woman below is blind and has a cover in her mouth. This art interacts with me in a way that it calls for help. It calls for awareness that women experiences such traumatic event when they are chosen as a target of a crime for being vulnerable. It has a golden padlock on the middle of the painting, and it interacts with me in a way that it is telling me that I have the key and I am capable of freeing them. It made me feel that I’m responsible for this situations to stop, and as a woman I wish other woman could defend themselves and fight if they can to avoid these unfortunate circumstances to happen. Furthermore, it is our duty to take care of our sisters and all the woman in the world.

After Hidalgo (MyayyGgdoddSvavaeththhteFiliiie II)

This artwork was done by Grecho Iniel Cruz and was made out of acrylic on canvas. The painting was extraordinary for it wasn’t just a normal canvas, they are like connected pieces of wood formed together to put up this masterpiece. The human body figure of the subjects in the painting weren’t shown completely. It seems like you need to push the extra edges on the side to see the picture as a whole. But then I can say that even without doing so, you will understand the story behind these painting

It is shown that group of men are drawn to the lady wherein her clothing is dragged by one of the men. It shows great disrespect for women and it shows the hardship any women has during the past century. Wherein they are viewed as weak, servants of men, and other self-degrading adjectives. Another women is seen seated naked and tied as if she was a pet. Worst, a toy. Which is only used when malicious men feel the urge of sexual desires. Women are being captive and it can be seen that they are not fighting back, as if accepting the situation and just let it be. Sometimes that is wrong with people, they cry for justice but aren’t taking any action to achieve such goal. We can never change the world if we keep being contented of being harassed and attacked. Without action, we will just continue letting them hurt us because they know we don’t fight back. It can be easily said, but I know it would be hard, but hopefully this would stop especially human trafickong of young women.

I believe that women are being stereotyped as a weak individual because the older generations passed the idea about weaknesses of women. That they can easily be persuade, that they can be a target of a crimes, and especially rape for men are physically stronger. I hope the current generation will be an example that women aren’t just about being vulnerable, they are more than it. This picture interacted with me in a way that it made me realize the worst thing that can happen to a women back then. It made me feel angry but at the same time made me stronger.

2. Among the eleven exhibitor in the event, I choose Maria Jeona Zoleta and Agnes Arellano

Maria Jeona Zoleta

She’s one of the exhibitors I choose for her exhibit was undeniably shouting and calling for attention. Her works are incorporation of strong and bright colors with subjects of human like individuals as well as imaginary characters who looks like monsters. Her paintings incorporates lot of nude individual and lots of sexual activities as well. Every painting has its unique frame, and every painting has many characters on it. Sample works are the following images.

The message that this artworks convey refers to the things where the youth of today are drawn in. It can be in technologies, the idea of love and especially the temptation of sexual desires. It can also show the belief, imagination and perception of an individual affected by influences from anywhere.

Agnes Arellano

Her works are sculptured stone which is considerably difficult to pull off for we know that stones are hard and are at the same time can be brittle wherein one wrong move can destroy the entire piece. Her works in the exhibit depicts a subject of femininity. They were considered as goddess. Every woman has a different function as a goddess that’s why it can be said that they have their own distinctive characteristic. Sample artworks are the following.

The message this works convey that woman can be strong and an ideal person for everyone. Back in the centuries where there is great gender discrimination wherein men gets all the opportunities and women cleans the house and serves the husband. This artworks reminds us that at some point of time, women are the real leaders, women are the real icons and as the world changes fastly we will all expect that the day will come wherein women will no longer beseen as vulnerable and target of abuse.

3. Overall Experience in the Art Fair

The people who attended the art fair were observably rich and are art inclined people. There were families with their children and it is good to see that young people nowadays are already interested in arts especially due to the growing influence of technology in our life. There are also people dressed differently and extravagantly which can be implied that they are inclined to art. There were also old people who attended, foreigners, and especially the youth who compromises the most number of population in the art fair.

I was really amazed by the arts I saw during my first visit of art fair. I never know up to what extent a Filipino artist can do with his talent, especially seeing the value of each art piece makes me want to be an artist too.

Unlike National Museum, the art fair location was really limited to the point that it wasn’t prepared for the number of visitors. But then, it was also an advantage to visitors since it has limited space, you can directly see the next gallery, thus it becomes less tiring than the visit to National Museum. Added to that, it showcases more variety of art works as compare to National Museum. The art fair showcases glass sculpture, stone sculpture, paintings, art in sound. Another difference is that the description of art works in the art fair is accompanied by its monetary value. It can also be said that art works in the art fair are considerably more renewed and are different from traditional arts which are kept in the National Museum.

The art fair opened my eyes and helped me realize that people are really interested with art, whether they are good and not good in arts. I was really amazed with all the art works I saw that I even didn’t notice that the location was actually a parking space. Because of the art fair, I was able to determine how much an artist could earn out of their great passion and drive to do art. It is an example of a job that is paying you while you’re having fun.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE ARTWORKS IN THE ART FAIR

It was a great experience attending the art fair, I will definitely visit other art fair on the next years. Thanks for reading.