Ang Kiukok

Acquired directly from the artist

The work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. There is light wear and handling around the edges of the canvas, but only visible upon close observation. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no evidence of restoration. Framed.
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Ang Kiukok is revered for his oeuvre that blends Cubist, Surrealist and Expressionist themes into the works. He was once regarded as a radical within the Philippine’s contemporary art movement, for his unique synthesis of styles, as well as selected subject matters, was seen as provocative to many critics. Kiukok found creative inspiration from the facets of contemporary society that was often neglected in the country’s artistic expression. All these other worlds were celebrated in the paintings, expressed with bright colours and bold brushstrokes to intensify the moments that were being lived.

 The present piece entitled Mother and Children is a stark contrast from Kiukok’s frequented themes, revealing a softer, and perhaps, more emotional side from the artist. The women’s head is bent down in a compassionate embrace, and with her eyes closed she is separate from the audience, a mother whose primary concern are the three children, their reached out bodies complimenting her folded posture. For an artist whose collection of works were largely inspired by the underground culture of his country,Mother and Children is a rare look into Kiukok’s personal paradigms inspired by his hopes and fears.

Born to Chinese immigrants, Kiukok rebelled against his family’s expectations and sought a career in art for it provided him with the tools to reach out to a larger audience. It was the artist’s visit to New York in 1965 that established the motifs that would be found in later works. The trip marked Kiukok’s first exposure to American abstract art, and the works that he saw had a great impact upon his own creative vision. Interestingly the artist’s name translates to mean one who would “save the country”. It may be implied that this responsibility has coloured Kiukok’s oeuvre, for throughout his career the artist has used painting as means to analyse and dissect the very foundations of society.

Therefore in this vein, Mother and Children further reveals the artist’s complexities and value systems. As an individual who sought to dismantle the structures of modernity, the present piece is an active embracement of familial relationships. It is fundamentally a celebration of primal connections, for it is these bonds that define human existence. Thus the woman portrayed with her children represents the artist’s hope towards mankind. Mother and Children is ultimately his desire to communicate that amidst the greed and squalor, there are moments of true happiness that transcend all expectations.