In MoCAF 2025, Booths are the Canvass
Explore MoCAF 2025 through exhibits that spearhead spatial storytelling as key visual opportunity.
Words Randolf Maala-Resueño
Photos courtesy of Xavier Yu
July 11, 2025
Art speaks for itself. But when galleries push the extra mile for their exhibition spaces and artists, their masterpieces spark a more interactive, meaningful narrative. This year’s MoCAF showcased just that–spotlighting the notion that visual storytelling goes beyond the strokes and sculptures.
Exploring Marquis Events Place, here are some of MoCAF 2025’s most noteworthy exhibitions, extending the conversations on how gallery design becomes part of the narrative–blending art, architecture, and spatial storytelling.
A doom scrolling hand at VeryGood Gallery
An allegory to digital art consumption, VeryGood Gallery posits a question: is art better viewed through galleries or the corners of the Internet? The booth is centered by a mechanical hand–with its thumb doom scrolling on a makeshift phone from an LED TV–endlessly perusing the digital art space. Nonetheless, the campy piece highlights an important metaphor surrounding spatial art appreciation versus the information superhighway.
Such physical spaces are crucial, just what Blic from VeryGood Art Space mentioned, magnifying the gallery’s attempt to elevate their aesthetic messaging at every attended art fairs.
“Instead of just doom scrolling, just go to the gallery and check out the paintings, right? So, basically, that's why we created this concept: for art lovers. We encourage them to see what the difference is between the digital space and this physical space. And we can say, for sure, It's more fun to look at art inside a gallery,” Blic said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Catch a glimpse of the piece at BOOTH 2 in the Ballroom area.
R.A.M. Orlina’s glass, mirrors, and abundance
“What I can say is, especially for my dad, you know, he's been exhibiting for like 50 years, basically. So he's had exhibitions of all types. And so, what we want is to innovate and try new things.”
This capsulizes Michael Orlina’s vision for the family’s special exhibition in MoCAF 2025. Entitled “Nature’s Abundance,” familial glass sculptors Ramon, Anna, and Michael Orlina, collectively known as R.A.M, showcases an LED wall highlighting the Orlinas’ creative process and inspiration which provide context and information towards their viewpoint as artists.
Hoping to stand out, the exhibition also features a mirror wall for the first time–an attempt to make a three-dimensional experience for art appreciators.
“In this art fair, you also want to stand out with how you display the works; how you curate, organize the way the works are set up. But then comes the “bongga” factor–the extra-ness. And I think that's what we're really good at,” Michael asserted.
You can experience this majestic 3D medium at BOOTH 19 at the Ballroom area.
Blooming experience at Bryan Teves’ “The Beauty of Becoming”
A sure way to be engulfed in a wondrous green encounter is to visit multi-hyphenated artist Bryan Teves’ MoCAF 2025 Special Exhibit aptly named “The Beauty of Becoming.”
Inspired by Teves’ deep roots with nature and cultural heritage, the exhibit is abundantly elegant amid the forest, mossy explosion–indicative of the exhibition’s surreal spatial storytelling.
What sets it apart, said Mishie Tongson of Bryan Teves Art Studio, is the gallery’s attempt to showcase the artist’s personal and artistic growth. “For some decades, our artwork [has been] as simple as hanging. But this time, we want to feel the vibes–how do you grow as a person or how do you grow as an artist. From every exhibition, we try to level up, same as the theme.”
For a sensory experience and a glimpse of Teves’ revered piece “A Mother’s Love,” visit the Special Exhibition at BOOTH 8 in the Ballroom area.
Whimsically delightful colors at the DBTK merch booth
Nothing beats an explosion of colors at an art fair!
Nestled at the heart of the Big Courtyard, MoCAF 2025 official merchandise partner Don’t Blame The Kids (DBTK) boasts a big, furry, blue wall with colorful letterheads in different textures. The brand, known for their modern streetwear, and their core aesthetic vision reflects their booth: colorful, whimsical, and innovative.
The booth design also draws inspiration from their collaboration with MoCAF, exemplifying their collective creativity as contemporary entities. DBTK Creative Designer Lester Beringuel also highlighted how booth design benefits both the exhibitors and art appreciators.
“I think it's a win-win for the artist or the brand and also for the customer. First, for the brand, we're able to execute what our real vision is for the art. As well as our passion to create more things that are beyond limit. And secondly, it's a win for the customers because as a brand, we want our customers to have a customer experience. Not only going to the booth to buy the merch, we want to engage with them,” Beringuel concluded.
Want to don an official DBTKxMoCAF merch? Buy yours at their booth in the Big Courtyard.
What’s next for spatial storytelling?
From a digital art metaphor to a fantastical forest experience, MoCAF galleries and booths are the ultimate canvass where exhibitors defied the norms of art presentation. And we’re excited to see how these artists and galleries will stir the conversation further, lamenting spatial design as an integral art fest staple.
