Provenance: Provenance: Pinto Art Museum, Antipolo City

ABOUT THE WORK

Dex Fernandez’ humorously rotund and many-legged Garapata,which means tick or flea in Filipino, has seemingly captured our collective imagination. Dex’s Garapata cannot only be found on his conventional pieces, but can be seen in the most peculiar places such as jeeps, buses, train stations, electric posts, and other urban and public spaces, and often come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and even colors. For Fernandez, Garapata, and Garapata’s inherent pervasiveness, is a metaphor for the resiliency and ubiquity of the Filipino people. In this piece entitled Heart.jpeg we see a collection of Garapata critters in a nuanced and comedic amalgamation of reveries. Done in his signature graphic style, the piece reflects the diversity of characters that exist within a connected community. His evocative brand of art has captivated numerous audiences — both locally and internationally. An ACC grantee, Fernandez has ventured into the far reaches of his creativity, working with various media and provocative themes to tap into his audiences’ consciousness. Also considered a street artist, Fernandez has incorporated into his works a distinct grit and flair, a vulgarity and frankness in his art while concurrently putting on an alluring display of whimsy and playfulness.