The First Monkey

Critically acclaimed young Filipino painter Rodel Tapaya's works depict piercing social commentaries on contemporary life. Winner of the prestigious 2011 APB-Signature Art Prize, the heart of Rodel Tapaya's work is his on-going amalgamation of folk narrative and contemporary reality within the framework of memory and history. His utilization of faces of ancient demi-gods and other archetypal heroes reference an era lost in the murk beyond history. Tapaya's unique ability to depict primeval figures in a contemporaneous manner sheds light into his artistic thought process, and his paintings reflect the artist's interpretation of the reality he experiences.

The Healer (Lot 513) and The First Monkey (Lot 517) epitomize Tapaya's portrayal of this mystical universe, depicting a ubiquitous face-mask of folk-aesthetic often seen throughout his compositions, juxtaposed against a forested background woven through with magical flora and fauna. For the viewer, they are enigmatic adventures; a rare glimpse into an oft-too-hidden parallel landscape and only visible through Tapaya's conjured visions. The vivid depictions of greenery and animalistic creatures help fuse the past and the present together, emerging with a familiar, yet uniquely enticing promise for the future.