BenCab’s muses in metal

In a remarkable departure from his distinguished almost-six-decade career, National Artist for visual arts Benedicto Cabrera, or BenCab, ventures into uncharted artistic territories with an exploration into metal work though his latest exhibition, "Series 8: The Muses," which runs from 12 December 2023 to 13 January 2024.

A collaborating with Abitare Internazionale, it serves as a testament to his evolving artistic prowess. Altro Mondo Creative Space hosts this groundbreaking exhibit, providing a fitting backdrop to showcase BenCab's foray into the realm of metal sculptures.

The journey was launched six years ago with the BenCab + Moooi Carpets project, sparking a creative kinship. Immersed in BenCab's distinctive style — Filipino and contemporary, graphic and vibrant — the collaborators stumbled upon the masterpiece, the painting titled Dance Interpretation. Ideas sprouted, birthing a three-dimensional vision.

Initially envisioned as just metal sculptures, each singular, one-of-a-kind creation underwent a distinctive transformation as BenCab applied his direct, personal touch through paint. Starting first from single brushstrokes, these evolved into a myriad patterns and colors, the metal transforming into the canvas upon which his artistic vision thrived.

In line with this, Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea presents the Icons series, an ode to the luminaries who shape the Philippine art scene. The first artist to be featured in this series is BenCab, whose transcendent contributions to the world of art, spanning almost 60 years, make him an unparalleled icon. His artistic journey, marked by dynamic shifts in style and mediums, mirrors an insatiable curiosity.

Altro Mondo Creative Space, at 1159 Chino Roces Avenue, San Antonio, Makati City, is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 632-7501-3270 or visit altromondo.ph.