For ‘Marker’ At Art Dubai, Focus Is On Philippines

By Tajudeen Sowole

Philippines is joining the list of countries that have participated in the Marker section of Art Dubai as the country features in the 2016 edition. Two editions ago, West Africa was the focus as galleries from Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Senegal and Cameroon exhibited artists who were largely based in Africa.

    

Face of Marker 2016 at Art Dubai

As Art Dubai’s thematic gallery programme alongside the Contemporary and Modern gallery halls at Medinat Jumeira, Dubai, Marker has proven to be a medium in exposing the diversity of creativite contents from relatively known regions. Artist, curator and researcher, Ringo Bunoan, has been announced as curator for Marker 2016. At Marker 2015, spaces from Latin America were featured and curated by Luiza Teixeira de Freitas.

 “It is timely that Art Dubai is giving focus to the Philippines. Dubai has one of the biggest Filipino migrant communities in the Middle East, and Filipinos have long contributed to the economic development in the region, serving various sectors and industries,” said Marker 2016 curator Bunoan after the announcement. “By selecting the Philippines for Marker 2016, Art Dubai highlights Filipinos for their artistry and creative talent and provides an opportunity for global cultural connections and exchange.”

  The 2016 edition, according to Art Dubai organisers, will be the first time that artists from the Philippines are showing in any major international art fair.  A press statement explains that with the influence of modern Filipino master Roberto Chabet (1937–2013), Marker 2016,  “highlights a new generation of around 20 contemporary artists actively contributing to the dynamic growth of Metro Manila’s alternative scene.”

The contents include what has been described as “wide-ranging multidisciplinary” such as paintings, soft sculptures, works on paper, textiles, photographs and films by a diverse group of contemporary artists in their 20s and 30s. Thematically, the “exhibition presents works that address a diverse range of issues, including form, collaboration, community and economy, offering a sneak-peek into the interests and practices of this new generation of radical artists.”

The spaces include: Thousandfold presenting photographic works by Tammy David, Gino Javier, IC Jaucian, Czar Kristoff and Wawi Navarozza; Post Gallery exhibiting paintings by Jayson Oliveria and photographs by Jed Escueta; Project 20 with multidisciplinary women artists Gail Vicente and Tanya Villanueva; 98B showcasing a group exhibition including a collaboration by Issay Rodriguez and Katherine Nunez, works by multimedia artist and curator J Pacena, new media by Miguel Lope Inumerable and additional works by Mark Barredo and Julius Redillas. The participants are all showing at Art Dubai for the firt time.

 “In addition to daily tours with Marker 2016 curator Ringo Bunoan and artists’ discussions, Marker 2016 will also feature a selection of artist books, monographs, zines, and other independent publications from the Philippines. 

Running parallel to the alternative scene shown within Marker and with Philippines in the spotlight, more established artists will be exhibited throughout Art Dubai’s Contemporary gallery halls: Maria Taniguchi, recently announced as winner of the 2015 Hugo Boss Asia Art Award, has a solo show at the fair with leading Manila gallery Silverlens; Taniguchi’s work also features in a group show at Carlier Gebauer (Berlin). Athr (Jeddah) shows works by Manila-based multidisciplinary artist Poklong Anading; while Taymour Grahne Gallery (New York) includes Filipino Brooklyn-based painter Maia Cruz Palilelo in their group exhibition.