Ronald Ventura changes gears once again for Humanime at the Fine Art Center in Tainan, Taiwan. In this one-man show, which ended this week, Ronald exhibited large-scale paintings and life-sized sculpture, embracing an aesthetic that hews close to the superflats of artists like Takashi Murakami and Aya Takano. He has incorporated anime elements in most of his recent works, but this marks the first time he has mined this concept so thoroughly. Ronald enjoys a tremendous following in Taiwan. He pulled out all the stops for this exhibit, opening with a live performance involving models costumed in the cutesy-provocative style of Harajuku girls, an event duly covered by the city’s media.
Slick and sleek, both in content and finish, the exhibit seems almost by a different person. I can’t remember the last time Ronald did works on paper, shown here along with his paintings on canvas. But then again, this year has witnessed a Ronald Ventura juggernaut, with exhibits in Milan and New York, a residency in Singapore, spectacular auction appearances, a museum show in Spain, the publication of his monograph, and now, this. Each time he has managed to pull off the unexpected, so why should I find this surprising? It would be more amazing if he stuck to the predictable. At the rate he’s going, that seems highly unlikely.
Humanime was on view from 3 to 11 December 2011 at the Fine Art Center, Eslite Building (Exhibition Space), Taipei, Taiwan.
Thanks to Migs Rosales for sharing his photos.
"Horse Around"
Deathless
"Appetite"
"Anima", oil on canvas
Exhibit entrance
Exhibit installation view
"Anime Channel"
"Horse Around"
The artist on opening night
On opening night
On opening night
On opening night
Opening night crowd
Finishing touches on opening night
Preparing for the exhibit
Popularity and money does not necessarily translate to originality and creativity.
What I see are a bunch of cliche images put together to form a collage.
A re hash of old visual language that everybody has already exploited, used and abused. Let’s push the envelope people!!!
What I see is a mind of a talangka. There are many of these around, going nowhere and more than likely, get cooked alive and eaten for the little meat they have. I have seen Ronald prepare for his show, personally painting the walls of West Gallery where some of his works would then be displayed. He himself would arrange his painting and sculptures…some even hanging from the ceiling. I was just a bystander quietly watching and intrigued by his talent and passion. At that that time i would think he had no money and was not popular yet but I was awed by his intelligence. He is one of a kind and the world knows it. Let us be proud and celebrate his success. By the way I bought a painting for P25,000.