Provenance: Provenance: Private Collection, Manila

Exhibited: Re:View, BenCab Museum, Baguio City, December 12, 2009

ABOUT THE WORK

World-renowned contemporary artist Ronald Ventura’s works serve as metaphors for Filipino identity—a pastiche of various cultures in which one can trace from history and foreign influences. Ventura also touches on global culture, taking a closer look at the western and eastern worlds, as he further delves on human nature through his art. His sculptural works featuring combined human and animal features and graphic images are widely exhibited and highly sought after by various local and foreign collectors. Part of his Zoomanities series, the piece on the left is produced out of Ventura’s explorations in the contemporary condition and its eccentricities. It features the signature horns, guns, and inhalation mask. The piece on the right is part of his Grayness series in which creatures exhibit nerves and backbones, revealed intestines or protruding stomachs, heads shaped that of a pig’s or a nondescript face, and jutting ears or budding horns. Both sculptural creatures in this lot show inherent absurdities and ironies in modern life in which Ventura introduces viewers to Japanese Superflat aesthetics of garish colors and graphic images and combines pop culture and hyperrealism elements.