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

Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

Ramon Orlina’s Ningning series encapsulates a profound celebration of the joys, struggles, and triumphs of motherhood and maternal bond and nourishment. Inspired by the birth of Orlina’s second daughter, Ningning, in 1989 and her subsequent breastfeeding for two years, the female breast becomes a creative avenue from which Orlina affectionately fosters his familial values. Orlina’s utilization of black obsidian is of particular interest. This exquisite glass sculpture is the first ever piece of obsidian that Orlina made. Black obsidian is also traditionally associated with potent protective and healing powers. Therefore, Orlina metamorphoses and elevates the power of black obsidian into one that represents the mutual symbiotic relationship between a mother and her child, in which maternal care and intimacy form the solid foundation of their enduring relationship. Orlina elevates the art form of the nude into something empowering and intimately sublime. (A.M.)