Provenance: Private Collection, Bacolod City

ABOUT THE WORK

Solomon Saprid was a modern Filipino sculptor who became known for his works in bronze which he created by welding scraps of metal, producing a characteristic jagged effect. One reason that the sculptor immediately caught the attention of art watchers was his choice of subject or theme, such as in this work: the tikbalang. Much of its dynamic expressionistic quality comes from the sculpted medium: the intricately sculpted brass details, making the tikbalang look like a jagged coral formation. Aside from this mythical creature, Saprid also featured flagellants, Bernardo Carpio, Amihan at Habagat, Daphne, puppeteers, mother and child, and sundry genre figures of peasants, farmers and working folk as his themes.