Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance: Provenance: Private Collection, Manila

Exhibited: Exhibited: Art Underground, Art Fair Tokyo, 2017

ABOUT THE WORK

The works of visual artist Marc Aran Reyes contain within them an inherent juxtaposition. On one hand, there is the predominant use of a minimalist palette consisting of various shades of white, grey, and black, and the predisposition towards classical techniques such as layering and chiaroscuro points toward a sense of artistic purity governed by an insistence of pure and perfect forms. This aspect of his work expresses a seemingly universal and objective goal that art expression must achieve in order to reach its full potential. Yet on the other hand, the striking image of a human figure in the center of the piece alludes to another story. Its strained form and recognizable gesture do not stem from an objective world of pure forms, but a subjective one that is rooted in the nuances of human experience and emotion. What Reyes’ work suggests is that although there are universal claims to be found in the use of formal and objective techniques, these claims can also be found in the subtleties of human experience and emotion. Reyes’ Silent Innocence on the Horizon synthesis of these two concepts can be seen as one of the core tenets of contemporary art; which is the exploration of the modern human condition by tapping into classical techniques and philosophies without falling into blind dogmatism. His work is the embodiment of the necessary step art must take. This can be defined as a form of practice that knows no master except the emancipatory possibilities of human expression. A graduate of the Far Eastern University’s Fine Arts program, Marc Aran Reyes quickly swept the local contemporary art scene off its feet with multiple solo and group shows in Manila, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. His groundbreaking solo exhibits Linear at Art Underground and Sad Emitting Pancake at Leon Gallery were met with universal praise and acclaim. Reyes won the Philippine Art Awards in 2016 and was a two-time finalist at the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Awards. This particular piece was exhibited at the Art Fair Tokyo 2017.