Mention Greenhills and the buzz phrases shopping haven and foodie mecca come to mind. But for the past nine years, this mixed-use property in Ortigas has been emerging as an art and culture hub, thanks to its annual gathering of creative talents and stakeholders in the scene.
From July 17 to July 30 this year, the ninth edition of the Ortigas Art Festival continues its multidisciplinary celebration at the spacious GH Mall.
With the theme ‘Elevate,’ the festival steps up with the launch of the 1st Ortigas Art Competition, where the winner gets the opportunity to have an all-expenses-paid exposure to the prestigious Art Basel Hong Kong in 2027.
Under its ‘Art For All’ mission, the festival continues its efforts to democratize art by making it accessible to both artists and the public.
‘This is an advocacy festival in the sense that admission is free and even the space for the exhibition is free for the participating galleries. artists, and regional art collectives,’ said Lead Curator and noted painter Renato ‘Ato’ Habulan.
Looking back, Habulan takes pride in the roster of participating artists whose early art careers started through the Ortigas Art Festival.
‘We started with young artists who were fresh graduates. Now they are considered ‘rockstars’ who have won awards along the way and have been exhibiting abroad. Our connections with them carried on and they continue to participate in the festival,’ Habulan added.
Diverse art showcase
Participating spaces and artist collectives include Agos Studio, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of Kaisahan, a pioneering collective of progressive Filipino visual artists who founded the Social Realism art movement in 1976. Among its founders are Renato Habulan, Pablo Baens Santos, Edgar Talusan Fernandez, Neil Doloricon, and Antipas Delotavo.
Also participating are Eskinita Art Gallery, Linangan Art Residency, Thombayan Art Space, Art Circle Gallery, Historia Art Gallery, Nami Art Gallery, the Collective Artists of Angono, the Mindoro Artists Group, Pasig Art Club, the Ortigas Foundation, and several artist-run initiatives.
This year’s festival likewise honors two National Artists through a special presentation of their works. On display are the prized books of National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) Press, while the timeless costumes of National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal are presented with the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The festival also puts the spotlight on environmental sculptor and the ‘Father of Philippine Installation Art’ Junyee, this year’s featured artist.
Hands-on workshops let visitors discover various art processes such as acrylic pouring and block printing.
Film and photography
A photography exhibit by Born in Film showcases nostalgic and modern shots from around the Philippines. A copyright masterclass will also be conducted by Born In Film.
Film enthusiasts can watch full-length features and acclaimed short films from emerging and established Filipino filmmakers like National Artist for Film, Kidlat Tahimik (‘I Am Furious Yellow’), Sari Dalena (‘Cinemartyrs’), and JL Burgos (‘Alipato at Muog’). The free screenings are in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and CCP,
Premiering at the Ortigas Art Festival is ‘That We May See,’ a documentary film directed by Paul Morales that revisits the story of Kaisahan on its 50th anniversary.
First Ortigas Art Grant
Gearing up for its decade celebration next year, the Ortigas Art Festival also launched the inaugural Ortigas Art Grant, an artist development initiative supporting young talents. Through the 1st Ortigas Art Competition, a total of 24 artists were named finalists during the festival’s opening ceremony.
The shortlisted artists will present new works in 2027, with the selected grantee receiving the award at the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration. The winning artist will get the chance to visit the prestigious Art Basel Hong Kong 2027.
Art Basel Hong Kong is the Asian edition of the world’s premier international contemporary and modern art fair, also held in Basel, Miami Beach, and Paris. More than 240 galleries from more than 40 countries attend the yearly gathering in Hong Kong
Airfare, accommodation, and a pass to the international art fair will be sponsored by the Ortigas Art Festival.
According to Monique Castañeda, Ortigas Malls AVP and Head of Marketing, the art grant is a response to the theme, ‘Elevate,’ where the organizers were challenged to offer something new to the proverbial table.
‘Besides the recognition, we want to give our artists the chance to be exposed to international art by bringing them to Art Basel Hong Kong. We are talking about young artists from places like Mindoro who have never left the country. Winning the art grant will allow them to see the bigger art landscape abroad.’
Ortigas as cultural hub
‘At Ortigas Malls, we believe our spaces are more than just for shopping and dining. We also want to offer community spaces where culture flourishes, creativity is celebrated, and meaningful experiences are created,’ explained Castaneda.
The enduring slogan, ‘Art for All,’ is indeed lived at the 9th Ortigas Art Festival, which has evolved into a community, offering new ways of seeing the world, providing economic opportunities for artists, and serving as a meaningful hub for asserting identity and self-expression.
For more information, follow the Ortigas Art Festival Facebook page. For more updates on Ortigas Malls events, join Ortigas Malls’ Viber Community and follow GH Mall on Facebook.