For over a decade, the work of Blic has been a constant in the visual landscape of Metro Manila. We have grown accustomed to his signature Humands. These are those clean, almost airbrushed figures that replaced facial ego with the universal gesture of the hand. But at this year’s Art Fair Philippines, held at the new venue in Circuit Makati, a window opened into a dimension of his work that we had not fully accessed before.
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On a narrow stretch of Mosque Street in Hong Kong, a trench-coated man and his dog step through the wall like they own the place. It’s not graffiti, exactly. It’s not street art in the stencil-and-slogan sense either. It’s a mural—but it hums like a comic book, shot through with punk energy and melancholy. Behind it is a Czech artist known only as ToyBox. And she’s standing nearby in a white paper-mâché cat mask, hand-tipped with red and black marks, watching people stop and stare.
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By the time you meet Joris Ghilini, you’ve already walked past the usual suspects—gleaming canvases, conceptual sculptures, and sleek installations arranged with the careful sterility of a gallery catalog shoot. Then you arrive at his corner, and suddenly everything feels like it’s been through something.
Read MoreIn a society wired for purpose, profit, and posts, there’s something radically pure about doing something just because. Not for clout. Not for money. Not even for meaning. Just because it’s fun. That’s the philosophy that drives Jelmer Konjo, a graffiti writer and DIY experimentalist who’s made a career—or more accurately, a life—out of creating in ways that flip off the system while inviting people to touch, explore, and play with the work.
“I come from skateboarding and graffiti,” Konjo says, leaning back like someone who’s had this conversation before—eager to talk about something he’s clearly been macerating in. “Two of the most pointless things you can do growing up. Nobody’s going pro, and even if you do, it doesn’t last long. If I play soccer against another team and I score, there’s a direct result of that. People understand scoring points.”
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Art Central is all flash and flow: white booths, selfie sticks, and quiet deals sealed with handshakes or credit card swipers. I wasn’t expecting to be called out by a piece of art. But that’s what happened at SHANKAY’s booth, where Venezuelan Eduardo Enrique’s solo presentation stood like a trapdoor in the floor.
Read MoreIn one room, his mother stitched dresses from wax-print fabric. In another, his father repaired shoes, coaxing leather back to life with quiet precision.
As a child in Nigeria, Samuel Nnorom moved between the two. Watching, sketching, collecting scraps. The rhythm of his home wasn’t loud, but it was steady. It was the rhythm of making things that last.
Read MoreWe’re always on the lookout for solid, affordable sneakers—and the Nike Uplift SC caught our eye right away. Priced at around $70 (or ₱3,500), it promised comfort, a sharp look, and everyday versatility. So we gave it a go.
We first spotted it on the Nike app. The color blocking was bold, especially in the Black/Total Orange colorway. We ordered online from the Nike App and a few days later, it arrived (alongside a pair of Black Cement Jordan 3s—let us know if you want that review too). This isn’t a performance shoe. Nike calls it a “sports culture” sneaker, something you wear before or after a workout. And that feels spot on. It’s a great daily pair for running errands, hitting the mall, or walking to work.
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There’s no mistaking the sound of aerosol cans rattling in unison. It’s like the overture to a symphony composed in color, pressure caps, and calligraphic chaos. From April 25 to 27, the Lakeshore grounds of Taguig City transformed into a living, growing maze of art as Meeting of Styles Philippines returned for its 12th edition. Part block party, part international summit, part subcultural celebration, the annual gathering pulled in artists from across the globe — and reaffirmed the Philippines as a destination in the global graffiti scene.
Read MoreMetro Manila is continuing to grow as a grassroots art hub, and this April, several galleries are showcasing fresh exhibitions across various genres and mediums. Looking for something new to explore? Here’s your April 2025 guide to the best art shows in the city — or at least some great openings to hit up. Read on for the key details and how to find each of these galleries.
In the buzzing halls of Art Basel Hong Kong 2025, one installation stopped people in their tracks. Radiating color and rhythm, Pacita Abad’s Through the Looking Glass (1996) towered in the Encounters sector like a portal to another dimension—alive with stitched textures, cultural memory, and the fearless vibrancy that defined her work. Presented by Silverlens and Tina Kim Gallery, the piece didn’t just command attention—it sold to a major Southeast Asian museum for USD 500,000, a quiet but seismic moment in the global recognition of Filipino art.
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