The UP Vargas Museum presents the opening of Anton del Castillo’s solo exhibition on 25 April 2013, Thursday, starting at 4:00 PM. Anton Del Castillo puts together images in which he attempts to create harmony, or in some cases, braves to impose harmony. His composition, either an organization of images that gravitate around a central image or one strong image that stares the audience directly in the eye, ends up as highly narrative paintings or assemblage.

In Buenviaje, del Castillo’s central image is a cattle caravan usually seen peddling native handicrafts in the streets. Del Castillo brings the peddler caravan into the museum as a gesture of deconstruction -- from its original form as a utilitarian icon into an objet d’art. Using the cattle caravan as a platform and a metaphor, he puts together the medium and technique that he had used in previous works (gold leaf relief-painting, metal build-up sculpture, assemblage of found objects and video). Buenviaje is hence del Castillo’s ode to a good voyage, the caravan and his art practice. The ‘buenas/good’ largely refers to a harmony of series of choices, events and conditions, rather than plain and simple good fortune.

Anton del Castillo (born 1976, Manila) had formal training in the arts from the University of the Philippines, where he completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts in 2005. He received a number of prestigious awards in the arts including a citation as finalist for Sovereign Art Contest in Hong Kong and grand prize winner from Metrobank Foundation in 2003. He is a recipient of Asian Cultural Council, the Sovereign Art Foundation Fellowship and residency in the International Studio and Curatorial Program New York USA in 2006. Since 2005, he has had several solo exhibitions and participated in group shows in Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Malaysia and Manila. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Integrated School.

Image: © Anton del Castillo, Vargas Museum