Ronald Ventura: Prepare For A Nosebleed

[Originally posted April 2010]

Don’t f$%#in’ say I didn’t warn you.

Let me begin by saying this week’s feature is about a Filipino internationally recognized painter, Ronald Ventura. Now, if that doesn’t automatically launch you to stratospheric heights of high-faluting madness where oxygen is so rare that it makes your brain explode and nose, ears and eyes bleed, here is more.  Someone from the New York gallery industry said that Ventura’s work, despite his penetration of the international market, perfectly illustrates the Philippine culture: It is a complex layering of images that on some level allude to the multifaceted identity of the Philippines, with influences from (different) cultures. His subjects are very contemporary—hip young people, tattoos, graffiti, cartoons from Japan and the US. All this gives the works a very urban vibe. Yet underneath this there are a lot of references to history and cultural evolution, and to a sometimes conflicted sense of national and personal identity. That’s what reveals a real depth that goes beyond the edgy subject matter.

Did I lose you already? Let me translate it to a language you will understand.

His work sells for $850,000.

 

Now, did I get your attention? Do you now understand how much of a hardcore this moth#rfu#$%r is? My first-hand experience in artwork creation is retarded, at best. So the best way I could explain what he does to you is by asking you to come up with a single image that will automatically make the viewer be reminded of the  culture of different countries all the while making it obvious, the point of view is that of a Filipino? So, like, nothing difficult or anything.

He recently had his first exhibit in New York. No, this is not one of those exhibits that is sponsored by the Philippine Embassy or some Filipino Philandtrophist featuring several Filipino-American artists in the hopes of making the American market realize the talents of Filipinos. This exhibit is his and his alone. The gallery, owned by an American, put it together for him and approximately $30,000 was spent. That is worth more than my internal organs put together and sold to the highest bidder. That is one night for Ronald Ventura.

The Strong and the Beautiful by Ronald Ventura

I think discussing his brush strokes or anthropological concepts of his work, although fun, is immaterial for this blog. Let’s just say whatever his style is must be so doped for some guy to buy his work for $850,000. I can work my ar$e out every second of the next 50 years of my life and I will never come close to earning that much.

Ronald Ventura

Now, anyone who has this amount of success can pretty much live like a rock star with complete disregard to the world around him but Ventura is not just “anyone”. He also happens to be one kick@$$ proud Pinoy. He was born and raised in Manila,  1973. He graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting degree from the University of Sto. Tomas, Philippines. Pinoy to the core.

He is standing in the pinnacle of success and is proudly holding the Pinoy mark closest to his heart. Look at the painting below. That piece is called the Mother’s Mark and has been revered as one of the two best pieces in his New York Exhibit.

mothers mark by Ronald Ventura

Ronald Ventura

Yeah, that is him, arguably the most successful painter of his generation that is taking the whole world on his hand all the while keeping the Philippine mark on his skin.