Emmanuel Garibay is often seen as one of the foremost Filipino artists working today. As a prominent member of Salingpusa, Garibay would often work within the vein of Social Realism—a style and technique that Garibay himself revolutionized within the Philippine context. Though Garibay’s earlier works often featured exaggerated yet familiar scenes from everyday life, he would eventually paint allegorical scenes that would often blur the lines between the real and surreal. Garibay’s multileveled symbolism which traverses various cultural contexts makes for an art that continually proffers new insight. In this particular piece, Garibay presents us with two central figures, a woman dressed in seemingly traditional garb, and a circus clown. The two figures’ eyes are seemingly affixed to one another, implying that not only do they acknowledge each other’s presence, but they are engaged in some sort of conversation. What that conversation is is up to the viewer’s interpretation of the myriad of symbols and elements scattered throughout the canvas. From the clown’s gesture to the curious selection of items the woman has in her possession. These pictorial devices create a web of glistening transparent tissue that interconnects the various elements throughout the entire visual field and creates a sense of curiosity and engagement.
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Emmanuel Garibay (b. 1962)
The Woman and the Clown
signed (lower left)
oil on canvas
36” x 36” (91 cm x 91 cm)
SOLD: PHP 700,800
Provenance: Provenance:
Private collection, Manila