“The strong symbolism in my paintings is presented as empty signs. I want to push the conventions of painting to the point of ridicule…to go beyond thought.” – Manuel Ocampo

Multiple award-winning painter Manuel Ocampo (b. 1965, Philippines) is known for his frequent and strategic stylistic drifts in response to new contexts and subject matter. His shows are often constructed around contradictory tendencies, elaborating discrepancies between what a painting appears to be and how it behaves in relation to the structures that legitimate its appearance. He always embraces sudden shifts of style and emphasis. He paints, but doubt is created as to whether any particular medium is the solution. 

The artist has been a vital presence on the international art scene for over two decades now; his works were presented in two of the most important European art events,the Venice Biennale (1993) and Documenta IX (1992). In the early 1990s, he participated in the iconic exhibition “Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990s” at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (1992).

Public collections include MOCA Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; MINCARs Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, Paris;  Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan; and MUDAM Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg.

In 2019. STPI had the privilege to showcase his solo exhibition, titled Ideological Mash-Up/Remix. The artist currently lives and works in Quezon City, Philippines.

Click here for available works. 

 

Artwork captions (top to bottom):
Elegua, 1990, oil on canvas, 135 x 122 cm
La Joie de Vivre, 2011, oil on canvas, 182 x 122 cm