Dalagang Filipina
signed and dated 2011 (lower left)
acrylic on canvas
48" x 36" (122 cm x 91 cm)

PROVENANCEPintô Art Museum, Antipolo, Rizal
EXHIBITEDGlorietta Art Space, Believe It Or Not, Makati City, October 8 - 22, 2011

The ardent nature of an artist to tell stories is present in the oeuvres of Rodel Tapaya. Aplenty of narratives and anecdotes are found in his paintings, assimilating themes ranging from folklore to social realities — all embedded in Filipino cultural history. The characters that appear in his mythical world all possess an allegorical significance, reanimating them into integral aspects of his tale-totell. Furthermore, his imagery is always predicted by native lore, which eventually intersects with society’s present concerns. His pieces, thus, are a reflection and commentary on the tribulations of his country. This 2011 Tapaya painting titled Dalagang Filipina portrays a woman singing while cooking. It is a superstition in the Philippines that a female, who has never been married, should not sing as she cooks because it will make her a maiden for the rest of her life. Another belief is the said act will curse the woman to marry an older husband. At the back of the subject is a figure of an old person sitting in a wheelchair, perhaps indicating a premonition of her fate. (P.I.R.)