Ronald Ventura, Human Study — 5 to 20 November 2005

Curator: Ramon E.S. Lerma

Ronald Ventura’s 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.

Ventura’s 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.

Ronald Ventura, Human Study, 2005

Ronald Ventura, Human Study, 2005

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

Ronald Ventura, Untitled (From clipboard series), 2005. 16 works. Oil, acrylic and charcoal on canvas paper with stainless steel clipboard, 22.9 x 30.48 cm.

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 Philippine-Australian artist Maria Cruz and Jo Holder, director of The Cross Art Projects, to be the recipient of the Ateneo Art Gallery’s and the Philippine’s first Visual Art Studio Residency Program in Sydney. This gallery partnership is formed to bring contemporary Philippine art to an international audience via Sydney’s unique meeting of EastWest influences.

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

View the Human Study Catalogue > Download pdf

Ronald Ventura, Human Study, 2005