RONALD VENTURA HUMAN STUDY
Curator: Ramon E.S. Lerma
5 - 20 November 2005

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Ronald Venturas iconic exhibition title, Human Study, is laden with ironies. Thematically, his works refer to the contemporary hell in which humans live: soldiers in perpetual warfare, commodification and religious emotionalism. What gives his work its power is its virtuoso style, derived from the classical tradition but revealing a dark underbelly.

Venturas first solo exhibition, All Souls Day (2001), attracted attention for his magnificent nudes, ivory-skinned with rich tones from dark greys and sepias to luminous whites, in a setting of urban decay. These unusual images signal a renewed engagement in gender issues in art as well as offering an allegorical critique of the conditions of men and women in our times.

Ronaldo Cruz Ventura (born in 1973) has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Painting University of Santo Tomas, Manila (1993). He has participated in numerous group exhibitions including the Asian International Art Exhibition at Fukuoka Art Museum in 2004 and the International Biennial Print and Drawing Exhibit, Taipei, held in 1999.

Illustrated catalogue available: Alice G. Guillermo, Dreams and nightmares: Ronald Venturas Human Study, 2005.

View the Human Study Catalogue

View more images: www.ateneoartgallery.org

ATENEO ART AWARDS

The Ateneo Art Gallery, the premier museum of modern and contemporary Philippine art, presents the annual Ateneo Art Awards. The awards are given to three individuals or collectives under the age of 35 who have made an outstanding contribution to the definition and development of art in the Philippines.

Ronald Ventura, one of the three artists who received the awards this year, was selected by PhilippineAustralian artist Maria Cruz and Jo Holder, director of The Cross Art Projects, to be the recipient of the Ateneo Art Gallerys and the Philippines first Visual Art Studio Residency Program in Sydney. This gallery partnership is formed to bring contemporary Philippine art to an international audience via Sydneys unique meeting of EastWest influences.

Ronald Ventura, Human Study, 2005, graphite on canvas, c. 374 x 155cm.

Ronald Ventura
"Insecure”, 2005. Oil on canvas with cast iron frame, 4.5 ft x 3 ft.