ABOUT THE WORK

Using bright to neon colors and simplified, even flat imagery which unifies both the frontal and top views simultaneously, Manuel Baldemor has created his own unique form of Philippine folk abstraction which reflects modernist tendencies while remaining true to the vibrancy, simplicity, adaptability and communal spirit of Philippine culture. A native of Paete, Baldemor expresses his strong pride for the local not only through his paintings, but through sculpture, prints and applied design. Recuerdos de Mexico echoes the similarities of Hispanic colonies throughout the world, where a passion for life and belonging, is expressed in the festive colors of fiesta which celebrate not only bountiful harvests but more importantly, happiness, connectedness, and belonging. Rendered in a flattened grid, the painting reflects the community planning for most Spanish colonies. Rendering each block of houses and buildings one over the other, Baldemor emphasizes the interconnectedness of the various elements of the city, while emphasizing the role of the church, common beliefs, and rituals, in community life