Like a carnival for the senses, where you can taste, touch, see, and feel the pulse of contemporary art, Art Fair Philippines 2023 sees creativity and culture collide in a stunning display of masterpieces.

As you enter the overhauled car park at The Link in Makati, you'll be surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and shapes that will transport you to a world of imagination and innovation. The air is electric with excitement as collectors, artists, and art enthusiasts gather to witness the latest creations and trends in the Philippine art scene.

This year's event promises to be even more spectacular, with a lineup of talented artists who are pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms. From vibrant paintings and intricate sculptures to experimental installations and digital art, there's something for everyone at Art Fair Philippines 2023. Here are five things to watch out for.

1. Portraits Session

Artists Raena Abella and Neal Oshima mount an exhibit that pays homage to ambrotype and platinum/palladium print, two of the most ancient and intricate photographic processes. For the uninitiated, the ambrotype involves the “application of silver metal salts onto a glass plate, which is placed in a large format camera, exposed and processed with precise timing and immediacy.” This results in an image that is unique, “dramatic in its contrast and tonality,” with the framed glass plate serving as the final print.

Meanwhile, the platinum print is a mixture of platinum, palladium, and gold salts that are brushed onto pure cotton paper, before contact printed and developed. This process yields “the most archival photographs possible with a tonality that is delicate and nuanced and cannot be recreated by modern analogue and digital prints.”

Aside from viewing this exhibit, fairgoers can also get their portrait taken by Abella herself. The photo is processed using wetplate collodion, an early photographic method that requires the material to be developed within 15 minutes. Each portrait is encased in a black frame and costs P30,000. Visit Sitting Room Studios at Level 7, Booth 5 if you are interested. For the exhibit, go to Booth 6.

2. Exhibits, Exhibits, Exhibits

More than 60 exhibitors from local and international galleries transform The Link’s car park into a space that’s daring and inventive, and one that underscores the Philippines’ role in Southeast Asia’s contemporary art scene. With a massive lineup squeezed in what likely is a fairgoer’s one-day visit, going here can be a little overwhelming. Either you come here with a plan or decide to get lost in a maze of curated displays.

One highlight is a special exhibit focusing on the works of 88-year-old painter, sculptor, and printmaker Rosario Bitanga. A female abstractionist and one of the pioneers of post-war Modernism in the country, Bitanga gives the modern audience an overview of her artistic career, including archival and recent works.

3. Performance Art

This year’s iteration also highlights performance art as Fifth Wall Fest grabs the spotlight with “PWESTO. TEKA…RAMPA!,” a “site-specific performance that integrates dance, fashion, art, and everyday life.” Catch the performance on Feb. 17 at 5 PM and 8 PM. The exhibit counterpart, featuring exclusive photo collections by Koji Arboleda and Renzo Navarro, is on display until Feb. 19. Catch Fifth Wall Fest at Booth INCUB2.

4. Guided Tours

Ticketholders who want a deeper look into the meanings behind the framed artworks and installations can also join the hour-long guided tour. Two tours are held on each fair day, one from 11 AM-12 PM and another from 3 PM-4PM. Only 20 participants can be accommodated per session. You can register your interest here, but the tour starts on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes early at the tour desk found on the fourth floor.

5. Book Launches

Aside from exhibits and talks, Art Fair PH 2023 also makes space for important book launches that intersperse the relationship between literature and fine arts. Kicking it off is the comic book launch of “Gasera ng Paglingap,” written by children’s rights advocate Chary Mercad, and illustrated by Mique Aguiluz, Marx Fidel, Dione Kong, and Mariko Nakamura. The comic book consists of four stories and is written “to make readers uncomfortable, or unsettled” about issues on sexual preying among children. The book launch is on Feb. 18 at 3 PM (Booth INCUB7).

Coinciding with that is the launch of “Wayfarer” from Filipino artist Mr. S of Galerie Stephanie (Booth 33). The book is “an in-depth look of the pop surrealist's creative practice” and reflects his “early work in street art and graphic design as Mister Sasquatch, to the development of his signature painting style and eponymous wide-eyed character on journeys of his own.”

Art Fair Philippines 2023 opens today, Feb. 17, until Feb. 19 at The Link, Ayala Center, Makati. Gates are open from 10 AM to 9 PM. Tickets, which cost P450 for regular passes, are available on their website. For more information, visit Art Fair PH’s Facebook and Instagram.