Art takes a walk beyond the park
As we still find ourselves puttering around in a hybrid world — sometimes online, sometimes engaged in real-life interaction — Art in the Park (AIP) 2022 launches its 16th edition with a bit of both. Still mostly online with 61 galleries, art spaces and collectives participating in the country’s “premiere affordable art market,” AIP will also hold live events and exhibits on April 28 at the Jaime C. Velasquez Park in Makati City.
The face-to-face exhibits will husband-and-wife artist team Rodel Tapaya and Marina Cruz. Tapaya’s “Chicken Army” explores visionary narrative tableaux that combine folklore, pre-colonial culture and contemporary political dialogue, while Marina’s “Imprinted Musings” explores the materiality of antique objects, photographs and dresses, weaving them into her personal biography.
Artist Lynyrd Paras started Studio 1616 (named after his workspace address) at AIP a decade ago. With “Reflect Deflect,” his promising batch — including Johanna Helmuth, Yeo Kaa, Jeremae Jumaoas, Jerahmeel Alvarez, Keb Cerda, Dale Erispe, Jayvee David, Jett Osian, Levin Paras, Ciron Señeres, Kiko Urquiola, Gian Miroe, Roy Rosatase, Yani Unsana and Erick Villaruz — will showcase 16” x 16” artworks (a reference to the 16th AIP anniv, perhaps) live in the Park.
Elsewhere Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) presents “INK in the Park,” a collection of 40 artworks from various illustrators including Juno Abreu, Aldy Aguirre, Fran Alvarez, Jamie Bauza, Benedir Dasig, Jovan De Ocampo, Danielle Florendo, Liza Flores, Tin Javier, Jasmin Lacay, LD Mendoza, Arli Pagaduan, Jonathan Ranola, Mark L. Ruste, Jomike Tejido, and Ige Ochoa Trinidad. The show is presented by BPI.
And finally there’s Distort Monsters, wherein street artist-turned-NFT creator Migs Antonio presents some 100 pieces entitled “Monster Mayhem MegaMash (Part 2)” in partnership with Globe Platinum. In the park, a live installation of 10 three-foot-high resin sculptures will complement a background mural (to be completed live on April 28) as well as an online exhibit. Get up-close and personal with his clever, comical, one-of-a-kind monsters at the grassy expanse of Jaime Velasquez Park from April 24 to May 1.
The artist’s work, inspired by various classic monsters such as ghouls, ogres, werewolves and vampires, will be sold through www.artinthepark.ph as high-quality giclee prints that contain unique QR codes. When activated, print buyers can own and onboard the NFTs. But he’s also displaying a fair amount of physical art, bridging the fluid spaces between live and digital, and beyond. (More on his methods in sidebar.)
AIP founder Lisa Periquet says Omicron made a straight physical AIP this year a little “risky” this year, so they decided on holding at least one live event “as a step towards having things normal in the park for next year.”
Art in the Park 2022 is organized by Philippine Art Events, Inc., for the benefit of the Museum Foundation of The Philippines and with support from Globe Platinum and Bank of The Philippine Islands.
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For more information and schedules, visit Art in the Park website and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
