Tina Fernandez asked me if I’ve been to Artinformal (AI) in Greenhills. I said not yet, a bit embarrassed. “Greenhills e.”
“See? That’s exactly why I opened AI in Makati,” says the founder of the 13-year-old art gallery. “A lot of people won’t bother to go to Greenhills to expand and refine their visual palate.” Fair enough.
Just last month, the AI outpost aptly situated in The Alley at Karrivin Plaza, a mini art and culinary hub in Pasong Tamo Extension, opened to the public.
The space used to be the home of Steps Dance Studio and then of a recruitment agency. It became vacant July last year and was offered to Fernandez. “I couldn’t say no,” she says. “Karrivin Plaza’s like my second home.” Just a few doors away in The Alley is Fernandez’s art and design shop Aphro Living.
And since then, the renovation was continuous. Now, works by artists Tosha Albor, Brisa Amir, and Christina Dy grace the white space. Fernandez partnered with architectural firm Jagnus Design Studio again (the group designed the distinctly unique Aphro), and this time, the brief’s different: the art should be the star, meaning the space should be almost bare. Mark Wilson and Nikki Tayag were in charge of the interior and lighting design of the sleek bright and spacious gallery.
Will this branch be different from the one in Greenhills, a.k.a. AI1? Fernandez says that both galleries will present divergent art experiences. “AI1 will now show curator-lead exhibitions, while the new AI will run solo show by artists that I choose.”
Artinformal. The Alley at Karrivin Plaza. 2316 Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City.
839-1772. [email protected]. Tue. to Sat., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Read more:
Calle Wright: The “slow” art house in Malate
Cutesy offices don’t cut it for this design group
How tech powered Plet Bolipata’s installation at Art Fair
Read more from Yazhmin Malajito:
10 florists in Manila you need to know
Don’t make these common mistakes when making tea
Writer: YAZHMIN MALAJITO
PHOTOGRAPHY MARGA ALEJANDRINO
