Cura
dated 2018
mixed media (acrylic, oil, found obje ctsand paper on wood)
47" x 52" (119 cm x 132 cm)

PROVENANCEPintô International, New York


Kawayan de Guia’s collage and mixed-media works are seen as reflections of the often diverse and multifaceted elements that make up Filipino culture and heritage. His interest in the intersections between modern, traditional, and indigenous cultures can be traced to his own personal experiences, particularly with his family members who are staunch advocates of the arts and culture scene in their hometown of Baguio. Kawayan has since participated in numerous arts advocacy projects such as the AX(iS) art project that promotes art and artistic practices that do not conform to the usual institutional norms. A dominant aspect in de Guia’s works is his use of juxtaposition and satire in order to posit contemporary critiques in the form of a familiar and humorous visual language. In de Guia’s Cura we see how de Guia engages with the assorted reality of national and indigenous cultures. Here, different elements, from traditional to contemporary are present. The figures are European paintings, globes, and bulols, pre-Hispanic representations of spirits or ancestors carved in the Cordillera region where de Guia himself grew up in. In a way, more than just being reflections, de Guia’s work acts as a portrait that seemingly showcases the ever-changing and complex face of Filipino culture itself. (J.D.)