Carlos V. Francisco "Botong"

Private Collection, Japan

The work is in good condition overall. Upon close observation, there is evidence of very minor foxing sprinkled on the top left corner, but this does not detract the overall aesthetics of the painting. No restoration has been detected. Framed, under Plexiglas.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Carlos “Botong” Francisco is highly respected for his nationalistic paintings that celebrated the ordinary man, and gave them a platform on which to communicate their stories to a wider public. The artist’s paintings are an important part of the country’s creative identity. Grouped together they provide cultural insight into the maturity and growth of Filipino modern art.

The present work entitled The Mandala Builders is a classic work from the artist’s oeuvre, for it highlights all the favored motifs and themes in Botong’s artistic repertoire. He started his career as a muralist, and this vocation would have a lasting influence on later paintings. A great admirer of Diego Rivera’s paintings, Botong sought to emulate the Mexican artist’s rich colors and arresting narratives that engaged the audience on an emotional level.

The Mandala Builders demonstrates this aesthetic perfectly. Reminiscent of mural paintings and the stylized way that figures and objects are depicted, within the confined narrative of the present painting, Botong's works have gifted these people with their own voice. The individuals and their actions are the soul of the painting.