00:00 This whole month of August, we shine a spotlight on Filipino artists making a name for themselves
00:04 not only on local shores but also internationally.
00:07 This morning, we focus on this contemporary Filipino artist who's among the leading figures
00:12 of Southeast Asian art.
00:14 Ronald Ventura is best known for his paintings and sculptures, which often reflect the forces
00:18 and influences that have shaped the history of the Philippines and Filipinos.
00:23 He's one of the highest selling artists from Southeast Asia, with his works being sold
00:26 at record-breaking prices at auctions abroad.
00:29 Well, lucky for us, Ronald is joining us now here in the studio, live to tell us more about
00:34 his artistic journey.
00:35 Good morning, Ronald.
00:36 Hi, Donald.
00:37 Hi, good morning.
00:38 We got you up early, Ronald.
00:40 Listen, you have got shows all over the world.
00:43 You've got works being sold at record-breaking prices, as we said, auctions left and right.
00:48 But let's talk about your humble beginnings.
00:51 You were born in Manila in 1973.
00:54 You studied painting in UST, 1993.
00:57 You had your first two solo painting shows, and in 2000, everything else from there, the
01:02 rest is history, as we say.
01:04 Now, tell us about your experience carving out your name in this industry.
01:08 Like I said, from very humble beginnings to where you are now.
01:11 Okay, so it's very long to talk about this story.
01:15 What are some of the highlights?
01:17 Actually, the first highlights that I made, maybe I think from the organized exhibition,
01:28 it's like the 13 Artist Awards from the CCP.
01:32 I'm one of the 13 artists awardee.
01:35 I think that's the first time I had, together with a group, an exhibition that-
01:41 Brought a lot of attention and brought the spotlight that you so well deserve.
01:47 Ronald, you started receiving awards.
01:51 You held your first US exhibition in 2009, and you're one of the most successful artists
01:55 now in Southeast Asia.
01:57 What does it feel like when you finally hit that level of success where people recognize
02:03 your art, recognize its value, and really pay attention to the message that you're trying
02:10 to get across?
02:12 Okay, actually it's a very long story.
02:21 I think the best things are the experiences that I've been to when I go places, like when
02:32 I go to other countries or visit other museums and et cetera.
02:37 More of that experience made me more confident in a way of expressing my art.
02:47 I mean, there's a lot of influences like here, our cultural references and also international.
02:59 Your works are known for their very multi-layered, almost graffiti-esque qualities to it.
03:06 It's a great mix of hyper-realism, a cartoon sort of style.
03:11 There are anime elements on there.
03:13 Some are very bright colors contrasted with monochromatic sort of scenes where you create
03:19 sort of a montage of all these different elements.
03:21 Where did that style come from, Ronald?
03:23 Actually, layerings, it first comes up with a concept like here in the Philippines, like
03:32 the sapin-sapin.
03:33 Yes.
03:34 It's a layered and also one of the layers is our defining an image or defining a word
03:42 or a language.
03:44 So it makes a lot of layerings beyond that.
03:49 And also, I'm using the, now we're using the computers, so in the early 2000s.
03:57 I used to use the Photoshop for my composition.
04:03 We're seeing some of the works on screen now.
04:05 It's really different, Ronald.
04:06 You've got an amazing, amazing and very distinct sort of style.
04:11 You of course dabble in, or not dabble, but you work in different disciplines.
04:17 You've got painting, you've got digital art, and you've got sculpture as well.
04:23 What do you like the most in terms of these disciplines?
04:28 You're known for your paintings, but you're also quite the accomplished sculptor.
04:31 Actually, the basic foundation probably is the drawing, the drawing content to every
04:38 images that I represent, like for the sculptures.
04:42 I usually made a lot of sketches and drawings before I go into the canvas.
04:47 Even before you go into the molded form or 3D form.
04:51 What particular medium are you working with?
04:53 Plastics, resins, metals?
04:55 Yes, for the sculptures, now I'm using the component of carbon fiber that I use for the
05:02 race cars to make it faster and lighter.
05:06 So now it's one of my new medium that I'm working on right now.
05:12 Exciting.
05:13 Ronald, I don't know if you care to discuss this, but what is your most expensive painting
05:19 that you've auctioned?
05:21 I understand Christie's took care of this and it was record-breaking.
05:25 You should be proud of an achievement like this.
05:28 Yes, I was happy.
05:29 What is that painting?
05:32 Do you care to share what it was sold for?
05:34 Actually, it's the painting I titled "The Party Animal."
05:40 So "The Party Animal" is a huge painting.
05:42 It's an 8 by 12 feet.
05:45 Why do you think it sold so well?
05:46 I'm not really sure because now, maybe during the time it's a little bit not so happy.
05:56 It's like we're under the COVID time.
06:00 So my work represents us like a party.
06:05 Maybe it's just like something like a boost from the boringness of everyday life.
06:12 True. Ronald, what are some of the themes that you want to now focus on with your works?
06:24 What is the message that you want to get across and what are the new discoveries about yourself
06:29 as an artist from the point of where you are now?
06:34 I think there's so much influence from all over.
06:46 I think now I'm turning some process into art cars.
06:57 I'm modifying some of the sports cars.
07:01 It looks like that's a passion of yours that you're indulging in.
07:04 But you're managing to combine your passions.
07:08 I know that you're also working on a great collaboration with your art and the automotive world.
07:14 So this is something exciting that we can look forward to.
07:17 It's an upcoming exhibit or certainly an upcoming collaboration.
07:21 Let's wait for that. It's going to be an exciting one.
07:24 Ronald, I have to say we are so proud of the work that you're doing.
07:27 We're so proud that you're carrying our flag so proudly in the art world.
07:31 Thank you so much for taking time to share your thoughts on art and where you are now.
07:36 Ronald, thank you so much.
07:38 Thank you.
Comments