An archaeology of urban experience transcending stereotypes — there are some very narrow views of what constitutes modern and contemporary art in the Philippines. Yet, contemporary artists such as Troy Ignacio move outside and beyond the box.
Ignacio’s style combines the frenetic energy and bizarre inventiveness of street art with a facile mimicry of the comic art idiom. The vast majority of his images are self invented. Nonetheless, he does borrow cues from pop culture.
The basic atmosphere exuded by Troy Ignacio’s works is primitive yet urban. At times, they satirize urban angst in a comic style making use of distortion that borders on caricature. The works are a product of “taking time” for a city to settle as you experience it. The unconscious feelings expressed in his work are jaggedly apparent in it imagery and the harsh quality of line and form. Ambiguity of animated form is explored and achieved in both charcoal and oil media.