Christian Tamondong turns a playful eye on the familiar representations of animals, alluding to everything from the characterization of creatures in children's fables, to their allegorical associations in everyday colloquialisms, to their almost royal regard in certain contexts and cultures.
Inspired from small works that he had created during a previous stay in Bangkok, Zoo La La! initially stemmed from Christian's observations of how animals in Thailand were treated with respect - that is, regarded with a dignity afforded any another living being. In his characteristically whimsical pieces, Christian reflects his own more intimate experience and observations with these everyday creatures, rendering sentiments of awe and respect into a kind of childlike marvel and wonderment that his distinctive aesthetic lends itself to.

Echoing the bright, vivid colors and unsophisticated forms of children's art, Christian translates scenes from memory or cultural mythologies: notably, works such as "Majestic Merlion," which is Singapore's iconic figure of an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. On a different chord, "Playful Monkey" shows a typical scene of a monkey and its cleverness as it leaps around a tree; "The Lucky Horse," on the other hand, recalls the Chinese notions of luck and perfect harmony that is attributed to the graceful animal.

As in his past works, Zoo La La! occasions Christian's displacement of familiar shapes: the most basic fragments taken from clocks, chairs, cartoon figures, toys, food, clothing and other everyday things are taken out of context and assembled into the creatures and characters in his paintings.

Furthermore, he incorporates chalk-like white streaks resembling a child's doodles, as well as acrylic drippings and washes that underscore the childlike sense of play. Here, it is evident how Christian consciously approaches the purity of intent that characterizes a child's painting - that is, taking out the filters that people acquire as they grow up and painting things simply as he sees them.

Christian Tamondong is a multi-awarded artist born in Cavite City, Philippines on March 27, 1976. He took up painting at the Institute of Fine Arts and Design at the Philippine Women's University. He is a member of the Anting-Anting art group.