Provenance: Provenance: Private Collection, Manila

ABOUT THE WORK

Napoleon Abueva’s cluster of stylized carabaos spread out in all directions like a protozoan creature. Napoleon Abueva’s versatility in both medium and expression eludes facile categorization. Though his original influence was Brancusi, Abueva has constantly searched for new forms and modes of expression. Abueva’s first teacher in sculpture was Fidel Araneta, who inculcated in him a love for masses and forms. In college, Abueva was influenced by Guillermo Tolentino, dean of Philippine sculpture and master of academic canons, who later disowned Abueva and his sculpture of distortions.