Women's Month: Female artists at the forefront of Art in the Park, Galerie Stephanie, Manila Pen Show

MANILA, Philippines — Affordable art fair Art in the Park returns on March 17, Sunday, in Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati City from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m, with female artist Pepe Delfin as featured artist together with fellow abstractionist Clarence Chun and multimedia graphic artist Demi Padua. 

Delfin explores abstract forms through geometric shapes, squiggles, and lines. She carefully places each element to produce a visual storytelling of the artist's experiences, observations, and relationships with people and contemporary life. In her works, Delfin constructs scenes portraying solitude and a multitude of emotions through vibrant hues and structured compositions. 

In her public artwork for the event, Delfin told Philstar.com that her mural aims to engage viewers by encouraging them to add to her artwork, which according to her, aims to touch on empathy. She said she chose empathy because it is what she thinks is lacking in society.

“I want to know how empathy is cultivated,” she shared. “I read that empathy is an act of imagination. I really want to run the idea that to make empathic adults, you have to cultivate the imagination of children and enrich your inner worlds…”

To her fellow women and female artists, Delfin has this as Women’s Month message: “It takes more than guts (to become an artist)… For anyone who wants to take that leap of faith, it’s always nice to get by with a little bit of help from your friends and ask for help once you get to transition to this phase in your life. You really need friends as solid support, a community that is going to encourage you and make you feel safe…”

For its 18th edition, Art in the Park gathers over 60 exhibitors representing galleries, art collectives, independent art spaces, and student groups to present a vibrant showcase of diverse talents and to offer an opportunity for fair-goers to engage, interact, and immerse themselves in Filipino creativity. Prices of artworks art Art in the Park are capped at P70,000 with many art lovers scoring coveted pieces for even far less. 

Entrance to the fair is free for all. Proceeds from the fair continues to benefit the non-profit Museum Foundation of the Philippines in support