ABOUT THE WORK

In Montinola’s paintings, the presence of a void is one of his most recurring themes. Darkness is also often used as a tool in illuminating subjects. He renders figures with obstructed faces, unconceived facial features, masks, headdresses, and caps in dark background, inducing a sense of hollowness to the viewers. One also gets to sense an absence of identity, instances of disappearance, and invisibility upon encountering these figures.