Public Art That Makes You Part Of The Painting Or Story

There's a tendency to think that wherever commercial spaces dominate, public space for art must be sacrificed.

- SCOTT GARCEAU

Ayala Land, Inc. and Ayala Malls want to dispel this notion, and their commitment to 11 public installations during this year's 10 Days of Art, including Art Fair Philippines, makes a good case that art and commerce can co-exist just fine.

At Circuit Makati, they invited Filipino artists Olivia d'Aboville and Jefrë Manuel-Figueras (known simply as "Jefrë") to unveil their two public installations last Thursday, and it shows how art can be more than just a quick IG pic or curious afterthought; d'Aboville's "Wonderland of Lights" uses thousands of recycled plastic bottles to create a Nena Saguil-inspired field of LED-lit dandelions that she encourages people to get up-close with, and even touch; meanwhile, Fil-Am artist Jefrë has installed 14 of his vacuum-formed plastic "Talking Heads," illuminated from within by LED lights bearing words in several languages, a commentary on isolation and connection during COVID.

These are not your usual glance-and-pass-by art displays. Part of it is Circuit Makati's positioning as an "art hub" with several stage theaters (Samsung Performing Arts Center, Power Mac Center Spotlight Black Box) as well as the upcoming Project Tempo art museum. It turns out that, historically, the property where Circuit now stands has some art pedigree: before it was even a racetrack (or a sprawling mall), it housed one of Asia's biggest cabaret theaters, according to Ayala Malls head of marketing Mae Dichupa. "That's the history of this place, and it seems to jive with having art performances and visual arts continuing that kind of history."