Nude at rest

Bencab's venture into sculpture could be dated from his days in London. During his stay in London in the 70s and 80s, Bencab was known to join the sculpture classes at the Camden Arts Centre. Using lice models, he did a number of male and female nudes but only three were eventually cast in bronze. The illustrated Reclining nude which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 31 October 2004, lot 551, was one of the works he did in London that was originally done in clay, then in resin in 1982. It was later recast in bronze by the Crucible Gallery, Manila in 2001.

The present work is another work commissioned by the Crucible Gallery. The reposing female form is classical, having been rendered in simple, unadorned volumes but clearly imbued with a sense of voluptuousness that is both sensual and feminine.