Accompanied by a certificate issued by Mr. Juan Sajid Imao confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance: : Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

MAJESTIC FILIPINO ICONOGRAPHY FROM ABDULMARI IMAO, THE FIRST MOSLEM NATIONAL ARTIST “The sarimanok and curvilinear okkil designs (I use) in sculptural composition are inspired by the early Chinese art of combining two animal forms; in this case, to produce the appearance of brassware similar to the gador, a popular Maranao decorative item.” — ABDULMARI IMAO “The sarimanok is a bird of exquisite beauty and unique enchantment, a mythic creature with a fish in its beak or claws. Today, the sarimanok is no longer exclusive to Maranao culture. It is now part and parcel of the whole Filipino heritage, truly representative of Filipino culture.” — ABDULMARI IMAO Abdulmari Asia Imao, known for his fusion of Eastern mystical and ornamental motifs with the Western technique of Cubism, and is considered as the most “Asian” of National Artists, pioneered the practice use of recurring folk motifs from his Sulu heritage thus resulting in the creation and successful usage of folk themes beyond the cliched appropriation of genre scenes common in the Philippines hence the creation of colorful abstract pieces depicting the fusion of traditional Islamic design with modernist patterns. Imao’s art emanates a triumphant force as seen on this sculpture of a sarimanok - essentially a link to that story of a rooster in the first of seven heavens wherein that same motif persists in different Southeast Asian cultures - the serpent naga of Malaysia, the most evident example. These regional thematic linkages set the practice of Imao apart in the Philippine art community as something truly unique. The mythical steel bird appears like a shining trophy atop the steel fish. Both the figures are united in their intricate carvings that emphasize the creature’s lush, fluid curves. In an interview, Imao notes, “Art is a sense of order and harmony,” Imao declared, “and to be a good artist, one must have the right attitude toward his interests and associates. In his works his life is reflected, and it is necessary that an artist must be generally well-informed and be interested in other related artistic fields.” With these words, Imao exhibited distinct qualities that merited him to be the first Muslim National Artist. And the featured work, a testament on how Imao effortlessly fuses Mindanaon motifs, modern mediums and forms, and the victorious Filipino spirit into one.