One of the country’s most sought-after sculptors takes on the bull as the subject of his latest exhibition dubbed as “Taurus.” This time, the artist uses the iconic beast as a metaphor to charge forward with hope and vigor towards the right path.
“Taurus,” not the zodiac sign, but the exhibition celebrating the bull and everything it stands for, is an apt title for Michael Cacnio’s latest art show. And with this development, the Filipino sculptor now joins the ranks of Goya and Picasso in immortalizing the bull as a symbol of man’s progress. This is most evident in “Guernica,” one of Picasso’s most celebrated works, in which the bull represents strength and authority.
Vincent Marrero, in his book “Picasso and the Bull,” famously wrote of Picasso’s depiction of bulls: “His bulls, quintessentially the bull, are lords of the world in which he paints.”
“Champion’s Salute,” 12 X 17 X 12.5 inches, painted stainless steel
Similarly, in Cacnio’s collection of sculptural pieces, we are being confronted by an aesthetically resilient and thematically interrelated material of memory, as well as a projection of possibility. By taking daily life as subject matter, while commenting on the everyday aesthetic of Filipino values, he tries to come up with artworks that document the poignant moments of our shared and collective experiences as a people.
In so doing, the artist also aims to illuminate the path we could all choose to forge through, and that is the path toward change and progress. The works presented in this exhibition aims to encourage us not only to charge forward, but also to hope by way of the bull as a metaphor.
Cacnio is one of the country’s most sought-after sculptors who also creates installations and mixed media artworks. He’s also known for his constant attempts to increase the dynamic between audience and artist by creating physical representations of memories and emotions through his art. As such, he’s most recognized for his idyllic and archetypal renditions of Filipino life such as in his Kite-flier and Balloon series.
This exhibit, a significant deviation from the artist’s established oeuvre, is something to witness, especially for those who have been following the artist’s body of work. Among the major works to be shown is a larger-than-life sculpture of a bull that weighs almost a ton. The exhibit also coincides with Cacnio’s 53rd birthday, which will be celebrated during the artist’s reception on May 25. This event is also the first exhibit in a series of several major exhibitions that’s presented by Art Lounge Manila to mark the grand opening of its newest space at the Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
“Taurus” by Michael Cacnio will run until May 28. For inquiries, please call at +63 935 5511305, or email info@artloungemanila.com.
