작품 상세

Rodel Tapaya (b. 1980) Origin of Echo signed and dated 2008 (lower left) acrylic on canvas 76" x 60" (193 cm x 152 cm) P 1,800,000 Literature Elliott, David et. al. Rodel Tapaya. DISTANZ Verlag. Berlin. 2015. p. 137. exhibited The Drawing Room, FOLKgotten, Makati City, 2008.   Myths, magic, and monsters—these three are commonplace in the strikingly original and unparalleled masterpieces of visual artist Rodel Tapaya. From fairies to gods, and heroes to animals, Tapaya draws from the long and rich history of our pre-colonial past in order to stunning oeuvres. In the work at hand, he illustrates the Greek myth of the nymph Echo — who would distract Zeus’ wife Hera with long conversations in order to prevent her discovery of his infidelities. Hera, here portrayed as a rather desperate housewife in a printed pinafore, punishes her with the curse of being unable to talk except for repeating the last few words she would hear. Tapaya paints her amusingly as an echo of herself, a loudmouth bursting from a dotted open mouth. A wolf and a bird seem to be eavesdropping on the drama. Yet, Tapaya’s works are more than just a celebration and revival of an often forgotten part of culture. They are original and unique in their own right, effectively creating a novel mythos that connects our storied past with our present condition. Through his adept manipulation of folk aesthetic and material, Tapaya provides his mythical characters with allegorical significance that transcend common perception, offering fresh insights about their origins and relevance. The paintings become a tableau of the painter’s articulations and traces of the stories that inspired them. Tapaya remains a favorite among Southeast Asian artists, collectors and critics. The far-reaching appreciation of his works has been part of the wave that gained more attention for Southeast Asian contemporary art in recent years He is widely exhibited in cities in the Southeast Asian region as well as in Beijing, Berlin, New York, and Tokyo.