The works of Filipina artist Joy Mallari have an unmistakable narrative quality to them. Mallari is renowned for her distinctive visual style, which bears a resemblance to the contemporary Filipino figurative expressionism often associated with members of the Grupong Salimpusa and Sanggawa art movements. Her artistic journey has been greatly influenced by her engagement with the rich tradition of Filipino figurative expressionism. This influence is evident in her bold use of color, dynamic compositions, and the vivid portrayal of human figures. However, Mallari's work transcends mere visual aesthetics. Each piece tells a story, inviting viewers to explore the deeper connections between literature and art. Mallari's narrative approach is a unique facet of her work, distinguishing her from her contemporaries. She attributes this approach to her exposure to the pre-digital animation industry during her formative years as an artist. This background provided her with a nuanced understanding of storytelling and visual narrative techniques, which she seamlessly incorporates into her artwork.
This facet of her work is apparent in this particular 2013 oil on canvas work. Here we see a figure of a girl, valiant and solitary, riding into the scene atop a horse made out of immaculately folded pieces of paper. A closer inspection reveals that a book begins unfurling from the horse’s body, revealing a trail of tales and stories. Other motifs surrounding the central figure exhibit a dreamlike allure, implying an abstract and surreal side to this heroine’s journey. According to Dr. Patrick Flores regarding Mallari’s work: “It could be a fantasy and not an account of grisly war. It could also be of a utopian impulse, evoking that instant when struggles have finally achieved their designs. Whatever it is, the picture lives in enigma, a sensibility to be gleaned in the artist’s works in which there is much “loss and leaving,” the longing for meaning in a life of void, the constant search for the elusive vital energy that should finally animate fragile mortals wandering the labyrinths of either the cold city or the burning desire." (Jed Daya)
Provenance: Sotheby's, Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art, Hong Kong, 5 October 2013, Lot 279