Who we are, View Cruz district of Manila in the early 1960s when the artist was still living on Yakal Street. Acrylic and ink on paper. The Proposal for National Dog of the Philippines makes her art all the more cynic with hammered leaves, meshed with acrylic and wood. 73 x 52 cm. In 1954, his family relocated to Bambang, a vibrant but underdeveloped. helpful non helpful. (The artist's wife), 1972 . The two series are unarguably the iconography that catapulted the artist to international fame. 40 Ben Cabrera paintings ranked in order of popularity and relevancy. Whether artists are born or made is debatable, but the talents and contributions of these renowned masters in the Filipino art scene are undeniable. A key modernist painting in the 1950s, Vicente Manansalas Madonna of the Slums pictures a mother and child who are said to become shanties in the city after leaving their provincial life. Critics remark that the style of Ang Kiukok represents his negative view of reality full of suffering, poverty, cruelty, and violence. Benedicto Cabrera, better known as BenCab, is considered the preeminent Filipino painter of his generation. Life was hard, for him in high school because his father's salary was not enough to feed, all nine children as he was only a pharmacist and his mother was a, housewife. The womans physical appearance is thick, round, and baggy with much of her clothing resembling her plump figure. You tell me that, I know I did my job well, Lilianna Manahan, This year, nail designs are proving to be the ultimate way to show off your own personal style. Whats so amazing is that these arts have been a part of the artists heart and soul, I think that is why these paintings are beautiful. Indeed, the struggles of motherhood are vast and very tiresome but ultimately, it results in an upright and excellent child that any parent would be so proud of. Ventura takes the layering process in his work as a metaphor for the multifaceted national identity of the Philippines. Geraldine Javier is prominent for the tense images of death and sorrow portrayed through her paintings. At the Feb. 28 opening of his National Museum show, he said: Every line I draw and every stroke of the brush teach me that there is always more to learn.. 3 under the Sculpture category. This period became known as People Power or EDSA; but was also called the Yellow Revolution due to the use of yellow flags and ribbons by the resisters. Communities, Project SHELTER: Taal Volcano Emergency Relief Efforts. Prime examples include International Rice Research Institute (1962) and the Manila Mural (1968) Paintings of the 20th-21st century have showcased the native cultures of the Philippines, as part of the spread of nationalism. In Grade 6, he won the top prize in a poster-making contest, his first art award. Benedicto Cabrera Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Benedicto Cabrera Art Value Price Guide View Benedicto Cabrera artworks sold at auction to research and compare prices. Here are the Larawan paintings, mostly sepia-toned portraits based on Filipiniana prints and vintage photographs from postcards, travel journals and ethnographic books he found in antique shops and flea markets in Europe. It permits us to envision, make and mirror our thoughts in a visual portrayal of our reality. This article also serves as part of my final assignment for my Art Criticism course in College. Where to see it: National Museum of Fine Arts (Manila). Shell Service Stations, Be A Shell Mobility Partner | More Than A Gasoline Station, Shell Gasoline Station Locator | List of Shell Mobility Station, View Many interpretations of the artwork have been made but a notable one said it reflects the anxiety and insecurity of Filipinos post-war. From his college years at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, he competed and won Second Prize at the 12th Shell National Students Art Competition for his oil painting Blue Serenity, a surreal abstraction of barung-barong (shanties). National, ist for Visual, s Benedicto Cabrera painting Iza Calzado . Unlike his earlier works, the Parisian Life shy away from his usual intense and dramatic subjects and instead portrayed a fleeting moment of ordinary life during his stay in Paris in the 1890s. In the American occupation, a notable Filipino painting was The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines (1953). National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts, Benedicto Cabrera, is most prominent for painting the "fairer sex" in their most raw and natural condition- in the nude. Through the influence of his brother, Salvador who was already an established artist, opened Bencab, art. After the war Amorsolo served as director of the college of fine arts of the University of the Philippines, retiring in 1950. Things We Keep Along the Way is an example of one of his many artworks. As a young artist, the WWII war years resulted in his so-called Black Period when he painted exclusively in black and white with gruesome imagery. His artistic talents were established in 1878 with the opening of the first art exposition in Madrid, which was called the Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Demonstration of Beautiful Arts). Students may also inquire with the Fine Arts department or the student affairs office of their respective colleges and universities. Benedicto Cabrera 2017 - 2017. Elvis Presley, James Dean and other famous people to sell for ten pesos. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts describes Ang Kiukok as one of the most vital and dynamic figures who emerged during the 1960s. His famous work The Happiest Place on Earth, is currently stored in Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo City, Rizal. National, ist for Visual, s Benedicto Cabrera painting Iza Calzado Museum Hopping: The Best Thing to Do When in Baguio for Only 5 Hours 1000, images about BEN CABRERA on Pinterest, Anxiety, Mothers and Pin by Noel Alumit on The, of it, ., Pinterest, Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, BenCab, BenjaminCohen, Filipino and his, s on Pinterest, Paintings, Philippines and. Shell Energy Philippines, View During World War II Amorsolo continued to paint. BenCabs creative years actually covered more than half a century. Guidelines for 2023 Annual Report for Foreign Nationals, Luxury Cinemas in the Metro: First-Class Entertainment and Comfort, 8 Japanese Restaurants To Try In Bonifacio Global City, 5 Nursing Homes in the Philippines for Different Elderly Needs, 5 Fishing Spots in the Philippines For Your Next Outdoor Adventure, 6 Spas Around Metro Manila With Public Bath Areas, LIST: 7 Animals that Can Only Be Found in the Philippines, A Woven Tradition: The Iraya-Mangyan Community of Puerto Galera, List: Convenience stores in the Philippines. View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow. Sabel in blue. Instead of returning to the country after his studies, Hidalgo went to Paris and put up a gallery, which became one of the centers of Filipino activities, where Filipino exiles and revolutionaries found a sanctuary. He held his first one-man show in Gallery Indigo the following year, introducing Sabel to the public. Finalist, 1967 Shell National Students Art Competition, Marthas Dance Bronze Sculpture Artist Collection. Luis E. Yee Jr. or Junyee is pioneer of site specific art in the Philippines, incorporating found objects and natural materials. Benedicto Cabrera, better known as BenCab, is considered the preeminent Filipino painter of his generation. (29.5 x 21.5 in.) Description: * Sale: * Estimate: * Price: * Bid Department: * Price Database * Subscribe now to view details for this work, and gain . Joyas Ethereal Aura (1977), a white-and-gray abstract in acrylic, is evoked in Sabel in Motion (2010), Isadora Dancing (1999) and Variations on Sabel III (1992). Sustainability, View These paintings were done on canvas, wood, and a variety of metals. In this article, I will be providing a visual description of BenCabs oil painting titled Mother and Child (Artnet.com, 1995). That was when his chromatics started to brighten, predominated by red (from Londons bus and telephone). As he loved art, he, often bought comics from a travelling merchant. In college, he helped Joya create sets for a ballet; was commissioned to illustrate two books; and won a prize at the Shell National Students Art Competition. Cabrera completed his Bachelor's of Fine Arts in 1963 with a thorough knowledge of photography, printmaking, and painting. The Bencab Museum is committed to the promotion of the arts, and the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment, as well as the culture and traditions of the Cordilleras, as an expression of the artists gratitude to the country that nurtured and inspired an artistic career that continues to grow, mature and fascinate. He also painted many wartime scenes, including Bataan, Corner of Hell, and One Casualty. Shell engine oils and lubricants, View Also known as Interior dun Cafi (or Inside a Caf), the impressionist painting is another masterpiece of Juan Luna. As a college student, he competed under the Sculpture Category of the 37th and 39th Shell National Students Art Competition and won 2nd prize for his piece, Prima Materia in 2004, and Zoomorph in 2006 which also won second prize. The color brown can be also found in the brush strokes resembling dirt-stains in the womans green scarf and the obscured skirt located on the womans waist. Shed beg around for food. First Prize, 1990 Shell National Students Art Competition, The Forest, 2015 Oil on Canvas Ronald Ventura Studio. Just like these art masterswho were nurtured through student programs and competitions that recognize youth talent and contribution to artour countrys next Internationally-acclaimed Filipino artists and National Artists are yet to be discovered. Where to see it: BenCab Museum (Baguio City). Leeroy New is a contemporary Filipino fine artist-designer whose practice intersects with film, theater, product design, fashion, and visual arts. Portrait paintings featured the painters themselves, Filipino jewelry, and native furniture. The Forest, 2015 - Oil on Canvas - Ronald Ventura Studio. Javier received the Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists Award in 2013. Venturas Grayground Painting was sold in 2011 for $1.1million at Sothebys Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings auction in Hong Kongsetting the record for the most ever paid Southeast Asian contemporary art. Make the future, How to solve three problems with one idea, Helping to power Londons buses with coffee, NXplorers: The Bright Ideas Challenge 2019, The 52 Shell National Students Art Competition, National Students Art Competition Hope In Our Art, Let's keep moving the Philippines forward, View LIST: Luxury Apparel Shops, Specialty Stores, and More in Legazpi Village, For Makatizens, Legazpi Village is a great destination for scratching the shopping itch. The Crisis of Humanity is a "drawing" kind of artwork which is an interesting way to express an emotion View These images are among the most recognizable in Philippine contemporary art. He studied under Jos Joya at the University of the Philippines and received his degree in Fine Arts in 1963. While a student at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts majoring in Illustration in the early 60s, he imbibed the temper of the times and painted barung-barong, estero, laborers, scavengers, displaced people. An artist known for his distinctive art style and realistic paintings, Filipino painter Fernando Amorsolo is best known for his depiction of the countrys culture, its picturesque sceneries, portraits of women, and scenes from World War II. lifestyle.inquirer.net. Hockneys precise lines, minute details, flat color planes and pure colors appear in the neat composition and clean coloration of BenCabs later works. Business customers, View Yet one of the most outstanding pieces in the exhibit is Blue Sabel (2005), which exudes a cool incandescence. With the right opportunities and platforms, students today can become art masters of the future. The two-volume book also has an accompanying catalogue which presents works from eight exhibitions held in 2016 the 50 th year of Mr. Cabrera's professional practice. During this time, he met many people that gave an impact on influence, in art. - Patrick Flores, ed., Cid. Sales of inspection equipments, electronic measuring instruments, environmental testing eqNIHON DENKEI PHILIPPINES, INC, We are a PEZA registered company that sells Test and Measuring instruments, Environmental . It was not until 1968, however, that his artistic career was formally launchedwhen future National Artist Arturo Luz discovered the 26-year-old artist and exhibited 60 social-realist acrylic paintings in his prestigious gallery. Our strategy: Powering Progress, View Unlike words, which come in sequences, each of which has a definite meaning, art provides a range of forms, symbols and ideas with meanings that can be determined by the artist. While it is his interpretation of the hills in Nikko, Japan, critics say Joyas painting is an allegory of human imperfections. Having been born in the urban, Borlongan strived to depict the everyday life in the city. college early before finishing his degree in Fine Arts major in Illustration. He was born on April 10, 1942 in Malabon, Philippines, and studied at the University of the Phillippines. Third Prize, 1955 Shell National Students Art Competition, 6 Clowns Oil on Canvas Joey and Eileen de Leon Collection. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, 5 Nail Accounts to Follow for Inspiration, Heart Evangelista Shines at Moschino Show, Filipinos Showcase Their Style at Milan Fashion Week, Snap Shoot: Lilianna Manahan Tells Stories on Sculpted Paper, Arts and Culture  Latest Stories  , The Red Carpet: Favorite Looks from the 2023 SAG Awards, Seeing: A Way of Thinking An Exclusive Interview with Artist Lao Lianben, Revenge Travel Mode activated? He draws our attention to the second skin of cultural signifiers that each person carries with him, however unwittingly. The granary gods, lime containers, native implements, weapons and other outstanding examples of indigenous arts and crafts of the Cordilleras are also highlighted a reminder of the rich material culture and traditions of the northern Philippine highlands that has fascinated BenCab since the 1960s, and part of the reason why he has made Baguio home since the mid-80s. Here are some of the famous and notable Filipino artist of all time: The Philippine artist Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was a portraitist and painter of rural landscapes. The influences brought by other Asian and Western cultures artistically advanced the art of paintings. Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more. Read More Early Years Cabrera was born in Malabon, Philippines. He was named a National Artist for Visual Arts in 2001 for his figurative expressionist style. It follows the retrospective BenCab: The Filipino Artist, which ended Feb. 27 at Metropolitan Museum of Manila. Primarily figurative, Cabrera's work often depicts woman and occasionally men wrapped in swirling, bundled fabrics and capes. Talk to us, View Sustainability, View LIST: Cebu Pacific, PAL, AirAsia offer BIG Seat Sales this June 12, Akropora Resorts:Natural Aesthetics Luxury Resort in Medellin, Cebu Pacific offers P1 Flights Until March 4, 10 Most Powerful Tycoons who are from Cebu, Blue Magic at Ayala Cebu closes after 26 Years, Meet: 10 Cebuana CEOs that are making waves in the business industry, A University above SM City Cebu 9-storey New Parking Building, Air Juan to offer Mactan to Bantayan direct flights, This 21-Year-Old is the Cebuano behind the trending Coffee House in Cebu City. He was born in Manila on April 10, 1942. He was the youngest among nine siblings; their, oldest was Cipriano and Salvador, and he had six female siblings with, whom he grew up most of the time. A painter and printmaker, he has exhibited widely in the Philippines and in Asia, Europe, and the United States. His exposure in art-making started as early as his elementary and high school years, and continued on during his college years when he competed in art contests including the 23rd Shell National Student Art Competition where his painting entitled Dama won first prize in the Oil/Acrylic Category. With its proximity to countless malls and eclectic mix of shops, its easy to find something to fit your wants and budget. Primarily figurative, Cabrera's work often depicts woman and occasionally men wrapped in swirling, bundled fabrics and capes. While the Met exhibition, which the artist calls his biggest so far and the most comprehensive, traced in thematically arranged pieces the evolution of his art since his student days in the 1950s, the National Museum exhibit focuses on his Larawan and Sabel series in 80 pieces, mostly in acrylic on canvas and paper. It took me a while to use color., Accustomed to the black-and-white illustrations he was doing for Liwayway and Sunday Times Magazine, he used the warm harmonies relatively late. BENCAB, Sabel, 2007, Acrylic on canvas They may have been mostly symbolic representations and are associated with healing and sympathetic magic. Go to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up. Artist: Benedicto Cabrera (Filipino, born 1942) Title: Tondo Girl, 1991 Medium: acrylic and ink on paper Size: 75 x 54.5 cm. In high school, he did illustrations for his classmates science projects. You have entered an incorrect email address! #StationStories, View Juts G. Kobayashi Research of Benedicto Cabrera 12 - Claudius Ptolemy Benidicto Cabrera Benedicto Cabrera's artistic talent was very apparent at a very young age. His art philosophy is more of form over content (though it depends on what hes working on at the moment). Ben Cabrera Philippine, ., by Filipino, ists. At ArtRanked.com find thousands of paintings categorized into thousands of categories. National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto "BenCab" Cabrera has always been interested in movement and form. He is more concerned with the line; color follows. Bencab was one of five finalists of the Castro scholarship, which he. It is a given fact that interactive platforms, such as Samsungs FACETS application, let these masterpieces travel globally, letting people witness the talent the Filipinos have. We might have reached a high point in the art industry with the marriage of technology and art through platforms immortalizing the many works of our Filipino artists. In 1992, he received the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (Cultural Center of the Philippines Award for the Arts). Considered as a pioneer modern and abstract artist, Jose Tanig Joya is said to have spearheaded the birth, growth and flowering of abstract expressionism in the Philippines. By the entrance are Multiple Sabels in six panels, painted black on white Mariwasa tiles; and Variations on Sabel (2010), 25 figures in black and ochreall resembling multiple exposure of film negative. Projects and sites, View Here he expresses not only some social commentary on his country but also a deep nostalgia for his homeland. Minnano Supermarket IMAGE from Minnano Supermarket Minnano Supermarket along Salcedo St. is a specialty store that offers seasonal produce and products from Japan. At the same time, non-religious paintings were also known. Communities, View With a few versions of Mother and Child on canvas, Ben Cab studied in the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines and was already able to show his works in exhibits held in Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, and London. In the 16th century and throughout the colonization era, paintings of religious propaganda for the spread of Catholicism became rampant. But in a frenzy, I can finish a piece in an hour.. Cabrera previously said Sabel is a homeless Filipino woman whom he photographed and first sketched in 1965. As a student, he won third prize for his piece Calesas under the oil painting category of the 5th Shell National Students Art Competition. The Philippine collector Don Alfonso Ongpin commissioned him to execute a portrait in absentia of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, which he did at great personal risk. Numerous Malay social conventions have made due in spite of hundreds of years of unfamiliar standard. In 2006, he was conferred the Order of National Artist for Visual Arts by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanan Palace. His work is widely exhibited in the Southeast Asian region, as well as in Beijing, Berlin, New York and Tokyo. Born in 1973 in Manila, the Philippines, where he continues to live and work, Ronald Ventura ranks as one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation in Southeast Asia. Save Big on Premium Wagyu at Yakiniku HIROs 3rd Anniversary. Isagani Agustin is an aspiring author of Literary fiction, Art, and Japanese Anime. Motoring tips and advice. Married twice, he had 13 children, five of whom became painters. Sabel. Here are some of the best specialty stores to spend your bucks in the more peaceful side of CBD. Yellow Confetti (Lot 2133). Energy and innovation, View Majoring in painting at University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, he also paints collages that wheels viewers into different pictures of the past. lifestyle.inquirer.net. First Prize, 2001 Shell National Students Art Competition, Barking up the Wrong Tree Acrylic on Canvas Aga and Charlene Muhlach Collection. Ben got his first award, and 100 pesos as part of the first-place prize at age six in an art contest at, Balagtas Elementary School, Bambang. Stills Studio is a self-photography studio in Makati City, which allows you to take photos alone or with friends without the usually awkward smiles and poses. Benedicto Cabrera, better known as BenCab, is considered the preeminent Filipino painter of his generation. The series of eight exhibits, BenCab: 50 Creative Years, marks the 50th anniversary since the artist first mounted a show, in a joint exhibition at the Art Association of the Philippines gallery in 1965. His wartime paintings were exhibited at the Malacanang presidential palace in 1948. Better known as BenCab, Benedicto Cabrera was a recipient of the National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts (Painting) in 2006. As an added accessory layer,, On Sunday night, the 29th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards saw some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry flaunt their fashionable, Lao Lianben is an elusive artist. Ronald Ventura is a contemporary Filipino artist known for melding realism, graffiti, and cartoons. His work features a complex layering of images and styles, ranging from hyperrealism to cartoons and graffiti. | Juvenal Sans served as artist in residence for the Art Interaction program of the Shell National Students Art Competition. Shell Fleet Card, View The painting does not tell us much of a story apart from what we already see in the painting. Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta, better known as Juan Luna, was a Filipino painter, sculptor and a political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century. Human figures, frogs, lizards, along with other designs have been depicted. During the 1920s and 1930s Amorsolos output of paintings was prodigious. LOWER 3RD Uses same medium. He designed and painted on ceramic vessels, plates, and tiles. Salvador worked at Mirror Magazine, and he often gave bencab art, supplies because he seemed interested, as he liked watching his brother, draw due to his incredible talent; at the same time, while observing his, brother, he was also taught the fundamentals of drawing and the proper, Back then, art resources were scarce for him; Bencab said in an interview, (Sagisag Kultura T.V: Benedicto Cabrera) that before he used a pencil, he, first drew with charcoal on the street's pavements. He was born on April 10, 1942 in Malabon, Philippines, and studied at the University of the Phillippines. Judging from the dirt on her scarf, she appears to be either working or traveling towards somewhere, her child placed close to her chest as she ventures off to an unknown destination. He made oils of all the Philippine presidents, including the revolutionary leader Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, and other noted Philippine figures. It is a monster, waiting to devour its viewers with longing to stare at the painting, analyzing every animal painted with acrylic. Sources:Town and Country,Artnet,Gallery Big,Arndtfineart The National Students Art Competition (NSAC) has been, for 51 years, championing Filipino art, and honoring talents of Filipino artists and art masters. Ventura views skin as an expressive surface written on with tattoos, concealed under layers of imagery, or exploding outwards to reveal an inner world of fantasy and conflict. His artworks are currently on display inside his museum in Baguio City including his famous painting Sabel. The Philippine Contemporary Art Galleries highlight the artists collection of paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture. He saw her around the Bambang area in Tondo for two years, until she just vanished into memory. Get to know these 8 Filipino artists whose university years were punctuated by student art competition victories: Second Prize, 1962 Shell National Students Art Competition, Twins Acrylic on Canvas from BenCab Museum Collection. Prior to becoming renowned for his collaboration with Kermit Tesoro, Leeroy New had already been recognized and exhibited in the 2008 Singapore Biennale, and the 2009 Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale. Beneath the differences in styles, media, and inspirations for their artworks lie a common experience that in a way, contributed to and powered them to be the celebrated artists they are today. One of his most popular paintings is Planting Rice, where he depicted a group of farmers both men and women toiling under the sun. It also sells homemade Japanese staples such as chicken karaage and ginger pork, which are perfect for lunch [], Come and Explore the Beauty of the Japanese Language at Nihongo Fiesta 2023. Bencab's Yellow Confetti is one of the most controversial Filipino paintings in modern times. . More than its scenic views, the country also boasts its rich culture making it an appealing choice for travelers seeking all kinds of adventure. Artists suggestions based on your preferences, Filter by media, style, movement, nationality and activity period, Overall performance of recent notable sales, Upcoming exhibitions at your preferred locations, Global snapshot, top performers and top lots, Charts on artist trends and performance over time, ready to export, Get your artworks appraised online in 72 hours or less by experienced IFAA accredited professionals. When taking a closer look at the womans clothing, the viewer can observe further the inflated-like form of her clothing and the rough, crisscrossing brushstrokes of dark blue and black outlines that form the folds and stretches of her shirt. Having lived for 13 years in London, he is also naturally drawn to the works of British artists of that era. neighborhood in Tondo, Manila, home to a colorful cast of personalities. Featured Image grabbed from: Rodel Tapaya at Arndtfineart.com. Primarily figurative, Cabrera's work often depicts woman and occasionally men wrapped in swirling, bundled fabrics and capes. The smaller exhibition rooms contain other collections accumulated by BenCab through the years. Fondly known as 'BenCab' in the Philippines, Cabrera is the best-selling commercial painter of his generation and a prominent head of the local contemporary art scene. Id just watch and do some sketches and photos of her. . The baby she carries is covered almost entirely by both the white cloth and the womans larger body, as her right arm sticks out to secure the babys position in her chest. Benedicto Cabrera (BenCab) is one of the Philippines' most premiere artists, having been recently made National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts in 2006. Shell Fleet Card, Applying for a Shell Card is quick and easy, View Tapayas work combines folk narrative and contemporary reality using a range of mediafrom acrylic on canvasses to under-glass painting, traditional crafts, diorama, and drawing. Notable painting during the time include the image of Nuestra Senora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga (1692) and paintings at Camarin de da Virgen (1720). P. Reyes, 'Sabel', BenCaB Filipino Artist, BenCab Art Foundation, Inc. 2019, p. 64Benedicto Cabrera, colloquially known as Bencab, is most celebrated for his figurative works that . He received a gold medal for his overall participation at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri in 1904. It includes curatorial interpretations of his works. JOBPRIMER Find Your Best Job Here in Philippine. Midnight meeting By Ben Cabrera by Benedicto Cabrera. Amorsolo was noted for his portraits. In . With their unique combinations of figurative motifs, his paintings and sculptures are now among the most recognizable images of contemporary art in Southeast Asia. I dont use much blue, he says in an odd afterthought. As a young child, he painted on readily available surfaces of pavements and walls, made extra money by doing his classmates' illustration assignments, and bagged prizes and recognitions from amateur art contests.