‘This year promises to be more immersive and exciting than ever.’
Breathing more creative genius into the Filipino art landscape, MoCAF—also known as the Modern and Contemporary Art Festival—returns with an impressive roster of curated exhibitions, art dialogues, and special workshops. Happening this July 28 to 30, 2023, at the Fairmont Hotel, Makati, the art fair will showcase the indigenous works of Filipinos, from up-and-coming artists to revered masters in the Philippine art scene, including Katrina Cuenca, Daniel Dela Cruz, and Michael Cinco.
Building upon the triumph of MoCAF 2022, the organizers of the art festival have forged collaborations with esteemed galleries boasting a long-standing legacy as well as emerging galleries gradually carving their place in the industry. Moreover, this year’s edition showcases art galleries hailing from Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, expanding the international representation.
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About MoCAF 2023
The second run of the Modern and Contemporary Art Festival will be held at The Grand Ballroom of The Fairmont Makati. For only P300, guests are granted a day pass to participate in exhibits, talks, and activities on a specific day. Tickets for the festival can be conveniently acquired either at the venue on the day of the event or through online purchases via this website.
Wanting to reach out and inspire the younger generation, Festival Chairman Ricky Francisco shared that they have prepared a variety of programs and activities to indulge younger people in art. As Festival Director Coleen Wong puts it: “We partner with both established galleries who have been running for years, as well as young galleries who are slowly making their mark in the industry. Master artists and emerging artists are given the same platform to showcase their works. Despite differences and diversities, they all have the same passion for the arts, and it all leads them to raise the Philippine art scene above par.”
MoCAF 2023 will open on July 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on July 29 to 30, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Participating galleries and artists include Art for Space, Art Lounge Manila, Art Toys PH, Art Underground, Artemis Art, Cartellino, DF Art Agency, Fundacio Sanso, Galerie Stephanie, Gallery Kogure, Kobayashi Gallery, Metro Gallery, Open Art Gallery, Paseo Gallery, Qube Gallery, R Gallery, Rojo Gallery, Srisasanti Syndicate, Village Art Gallery, Vinyl on Vinyl, YOD Tokyo Editions, and Ysobel Art Gallery.
Starting July 1, a series of immersive pocket events will take place every Saturday of July before finally kicking off MoCAF 2023—to allow the ever-growing art community to flourish. This includes MoCAF XP at XCEPTION in Legazpi Village from 1 pm to 8 pm, where prints, stickers, ceramics, paintings, and accessories made by Filipino creatives are made available for purchase.
This was followed by the MoCAF Painting Workshop at Art Caravan in BGC on July 8—an introductory painting workshop for hobbyists and art enthusiasts. To ensure the quality of instruction, participants are encouraged to register here, as slots are limited. There’s also another MoCAF Printmaking Workshop on July 15 at the Commune Café + Bar in Poblacion if you want to learn the fundamentals of the art printing. Inclusive of materials, the event is only P300. Slots for this activity are limited to 20 participants, so make sure to register online.
Furthermore, MoCAF has taken the initiative to launch the MoCAF Dialogues, inviting speakers from diverse sectors of the art community to stimulate engaging discussions on pressing topics within the art scene. These dialogues delve into various subjects, including Art and Community, Forgery and Certificates of Authenticity, Contemporary Art Trends, and the Economic Outlook and Art as an Investment.
