Lot 037
ROLANDO 'OLAN' VENTURA
b. The Philippines, 1976
SUICIDE JOKE, 2008
Signed and dated 'OLAN 2008’ (lower left)
Oil on canvas mounted on board
122cm x 91cm
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur;
acquired through Gallerie Taksu, Kuala Lumpur.
ESTIMATE RM 12,000 - 16,000
PRICE REALISED RM 19,040 |
A playful take on a disturbing act, Suicide Joke depicts a topless, untoned male figure pointing a gun to his head. Masqueraded by a smiling Mickey Mouse vizard, the viewer is unable to analyse his true expression thus encouraging one to believe that this act is purely comical. Executed against a pale cloudless blue sky background, Rolando ‘Olan’ Ventura’s version of self-portrayal exudes a flurry of emotions. He has produced a series of paintings that depict American cartoon and superhero characters namely Minnie Mouse, The Flash, and Silver Surfer modelled in various ways.
Rolando ‘Olan’ Ventura graduated in Fine Art from the University of the East in 1998. He has mounted over 16 solo exhibitions which included Black Light, White Shadow (2011), Dark Light (2010) and Negative Light (2009) which were held in the Philippines and Toy Box (2009) in Kuala Lumpur, to name a few. He has also participated extensively in group exhibitions in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. He was the recipient of Juror’s Choice Award at the Philippines Arts Award in 2005, and Most Outstanding Alumnus (Arts & Culture) from the University of the East, Manila in 2007. The second of the Ventura trio of brothers, Olan is known as a sensitive portrayer of his personal and domestic life with his wife and child often featured in his work.
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