GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize
RODEL TAPAYA
Philippines
Baston ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero di Mabilang (Cane of Kabunian, numbered but cannot be counted)
2010
Acrylic on canvas
305 x 610 x 8 cm
Courtesy of the Tiroche DeLeon Collection and Art Vantage Ltd
Artist Statement
In the northern part of the Philippines, a Bontoc tribe mythology described a gigantic canine that saved humans from a great flood. In another story, the god, Lumawig, son of Kabunian, used cloth to form mountains. In a Tagalog folktale, a glutton was transformed into a frog. My work shows an allegory of greed by employing images from different mythologies about the origin of the mountains, rain flood and other creatures. I used folklore to discuss not only the rich oral cultural heritage but also to insert political commentary about prevailing issues.
