Modern and Contemporary Arts Festival 2023: 5 things to expect

The Modern and Contemporary Arts Festival is gearing up for a more immersive art show this year.

Now in its second year, the three-day Modern and Contemporary Arts Festival, commonly known as MoCAF, aims to showcase the Philippines’ ever-evolving and expanding art scene by highlighting artworks from both up-and-coming and well-established artists.

If you missed out on this year's recently concluded art events like Art Fair Philippines and Art in The Park — or you're simply craving to be in a space where art is front and center— MoCAF is your best chance for that immersion.

Here are five things to expect in the upcoming three-day festival.

Tenderness in the fire tree by Sam Bumanlag. Courtesy of Modern and Contemporary Arts Festival

1. MoCAF 2023 venue and ticket prices

MoCAF is set to happen at The Grand Ballroom of The Fairmont Makati from July 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., to July 29 & 30, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The ticket price is P300 for each day and is available to purchase online and on-site at the festival.

2. MoCAF 2023 centers on the youth, launches MoCAF XP

With MoCAF’s continuing commitment to transforming the next generation’s appreciation of the arts, this year’s festivities center on the youth.

In MoCAF’s bid to cater to a younger audience and to provide new artistic and cultural experiences beyond the norm, this year will see the launch of MoCAF XP, a series of immersive pocket events every Saturday of July before the festival kicks off.

There will be a MoCAF Painting Workshop at Art Caravan in BGC on July 8 and a MoCAF Printmaking Workshop at Commune in Poblacion on July 15.

3. MoCAF’s local and international participating galleries

Aside from prominent local galleries like Ysobel Art Gallery and Vinyl on Vinyl, MoCAF will also feature international art galleries from Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, including YOD TOKYO & Editions, Gallery Kogure, Kobayashi Gallery, Artemis Art, and Srisasanti Syndicate.

Tideland by Carla Gamalinda. Courtesy: Modern and Contemporary Arts Festival

4. MoCAF’s featured artists

MoCAF will present special exhibitions that will spotlight prominent and rising figures of Philippine contemporary art, including artists like Katrina Cuenca, Daniel Dela Cruz, and Michael Cacnio, among other creatives.

Distort Monsters, Doktor Karayom, Zuh Dai, Christian Tamondong, and Angelica So will also bring punk and sweetness through a group show.

Completing the lineup are Glass House shows focusing on glass sculptures and highlighting the masters of Philippine art like Ramon Orlina.

5. MoCAF Discoveries

The festival will also mount MoCAF Discoveries, a special exhibition dedicated to the country’s most promising creatives. This year, there will be 24 brand-new artists and 16 returning creators from last year’s roster.

For more information, visit the website.

— LA, GMA Integrated News