In The Circus Show by Raymond Legaspi, one will find some of the main players of Philippine pop culture: politicians, fashionistas, and party animals. The exhibit started as a reaction to a televised hearing at the Senate on government scandals, as well as the prevalence of "fashionistas" in media. "It was an annoying media circus. I thought that these people were clowns," says Legaspi, a former creative director who turned his back on 20 years of advertising to become a full-time painter.
And so he began painting clowns. But unlike traditional harlequins who are always portrayed as jesters, Legaspi paints them offstage: sipping coffee, choosing costumes, or having a glass of wine. "These are regular images for many people, but quite extraordinary and unexpected for clowns," shares Legaspi.
The 20 works on exhibit suggest that clowns are people, too.
Legaspi, a 2008 Philippine Art Awards Juror's Choice awardee, has been mounting annual exhibits at the ArtistSpace since 2007, beginning with the well-acclaimed Daster series, which depicted enormous women wearing the traditional housedress in pastoral repose, sometimes carrying anahaw fans. This was followed in 2008 with Raymond Legaspi Does The Tango, inspired by the popular fiesta dances in the 1970s in the Philippine province of Negros Occidental.
In The Circus Show by Raymond Legaspi, the artist takes a respite from his usual inspiration—the genteel life in the province—and tackles subject matters that are more serious, including negative traits such as passing the blame, womanizing, abuse of power and superficiality.
It is a new take on social realism, with Legaspi's highly visual rendering and unabashed use of colors presenting a clownish and comical—though never cartoonish—observation.
Legaspi, who has always said that he makes art that puts a smile on people's faces, succeeds in impressing the viewer with his visual wit. He pokes fun at Manila's overdressed fashionistas as he employs bold colors and clashing patterns in the costumes of the clowns. As he has done in his previous exhibits, he uses his subjects' clothes as a secondary canvas to show another design or story.
In The Circus Show by Raymond Legaspi, he uses a slew of comic and theatric devices—such as feather boas, hair-dos that look like topiaries, and clothes that are garish, loud, and almost blinding. Yet he finds something fragile and vulnerable beneath all that kitsch, and he lets that come through. "I liked the idea of clowns as people who have to do things because it's their job, even if they don’t like it. These people also have emotions, attitudes, and families. They live normal lives outside their jobs. They are still very human."
There is a clown in all of us, he believes; the clown that takes on a role and performs for other people. "I wanted the viewer to see themselves or people they know in the painting," says Legaspi, who will also be exhibiting in June at La Salle Bacolod and in August at the Momentous Arts Gallery in Singapore.
The Circus Show runs until 7 April 2009.
Established in 2004 and formerly known as MuseumSpace, ArtistSpace is a commercial-run gallery owned by the Ayala Museum. ArtistSpace dedicates itself to the promotion of Philippine contemporary art and talent. By featuring a wide range of styles and media and a different artist every two weeks, ArtistSpace aims to cultivate curiosity about new art and encourage viewership by young professionals, students, and other adults.
The ArtistSpace is located at the 2/F Glass Wing of the Ayala Museum, and is accessible via the 2/F pedestrian walkway. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.
Admission to ArtistSpace is free.
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