Jade Suayan AKA “SYN” has been active in the Manila street art and graffiti scene for several years now, but this is her first solo exhibition as part of Art Fair, the undisputed largest art fair in the Phillipines. Suayan’s exhibit — organized by Secret Fresh, gallery of globally esteemed street culture collector DJ Big Boy Cheng — one of Art Fair Philippines 2023’s largest displays.

Historically, Secret Fresh’s shows at the annual fair have been immersive and ambitious. It’s a testament to how much support they provide to their artists and is something that sets their shows apart from even some of what you see in the best art fairs globally. This year was no different.

The show consisted of a broad range of mediums: Art toys, large & small canvas work, fine-art prints, installation, and large sculpture. A gallery foyer featured the large sculpture prominently, setting the tone for what was to come.

As you browsed through the collection of paintings, one thing was clear: Jade Suayan was doing something new. The designs and emotions of the works ventured into more aggressive colors, forms, and concepts. It fully embraced and communicated the theme of destruction and its role in creation.

Another thing that is agressive is the art pricing of this show. If you’re a collector looking to acquire pieces from a promising young artist that’s relatively early in their journey, Jade’s works on display are very much a bang-for-your-buck investment. It’s not a penny stock, but it’s almost priced like one.



It has to be expected that succeding Jade Suayan shows will not be so affordable, given the trajectory of her career. If you’re a young collector on a budget and with limited space, the pieces are perfect for you.
Lots of energy and easy to display artworks in this Art Fair Philippines 2023 exhibit. Hopefully these works find their way into homes and studios that need to inspire such energy.
Photos by Veronica Cosio