Imagiquarium: Legaspi's Fishbowl of a Show

CEBU, Philippines - Traffic is hellish going to Makati. The crush of vehicles and pedestrians is relentless, as the Christmas season slowly goes into full swing, and rush hour erupts.  It almost seems like it's not worth anyone's while to make the trip, but then again, any doubts about going to the financial district is quickly dispelled.  After all, it is Raymond Legaspi, the darling of contemporary pop art collectors, that awaits at the Ricco Renzo Gallery for his latest one man show.

Entitled "Aquarium", Legaspi delivers in his latest offering a drowned world populated by his trademark corpulent denizens.  In this ocean swims various species, and the most natural variety would, as expected, be headed by, the bathers in their swimsuits.  In this category, the piece entitled "Speedo No. 1" is the most "normal" of Legaspi's characters in these canvasses, and I fall in love with the fact that amidst the white and light blue tones of the ponderous swimmer's portrait, the only spots of color are concentrated on her twirly bathing cap.  Simple, but quite effective.

Elswhere, are stranger varieties of ocean travelers.  There is the Imeldific figure in "My Shoe Got Wet", the trademark butterfly sleeves of her garish pink terno contrasting against the delicate fan and the tasteful pearl earring.  Gold and rubies adorn the wrists and finger of this beehived donya.  Raymond Legaspi manages to make her almost adorable.

For the patriotic, on the other hand, there is "Night Swim," the velvet black background of the piece offering a sharp contrast against the national flag that has been designed into this cherubic matron's outfit.  The sun forms a Bvlgari locket while the three stars adorn her white lace blouse, and there is such bliss on this matron's face that it doesn't seem strange to discover her fully clothed under the water.

An entire orchestra of musicians float into symphony land, their instruments wailing soundlessly amidst the waves.  The Aquasymphonic series star a violin, a cello, a keyboard, and a trumpet, and one is tempted to buy all four, as to separate the orchestra seems like such a crime.

Reprising a theme that his fans are familiar with, there is the twin "Cool Red Daster" and "Cool Orange Daster," the housewives serene in their comfy house dresses repurposed into swim suits.

My personal favorite is "Clown Fish 1," the splendid hues of crimson, orange and yellow locks splashily dissolving into the water's surface above. "Clown Fish 2" isn't bad, either, the clown's white tutu providing a beautiful contrast against the red leotards stretched to the max.

As I circulate among the fans who are circling like sharks amongst Legaspi's masterpieces, it is clear there is a feeding frenzy, with red dots quickly pasted on canvass after canvass.  It is a lost cause for me, since everything I like has been taken.  I accost Raymond and ask him for where we will see him next, his next foray, in the hope that maybe I can stake out a claim in that future show.

What's next for him?  He responds that he is exploring various ideas, with plenty of sketches here and there, but no definite theme has been fixed yet.  He reminds me of his last show, a collaboration with Gigo Alampay's Canvass Gallery where he came up with a collection of cast iron toys, their paint flaking just so.  He quips that these cast iron gewgaws were probably rooted in a fascination he shared with other UST art graduates in the 80's, and which might not be so relevant today.  From that uncharacteristic jump into collectible objects, he has jumped back into a theme familiar to his fans: water and fat people.  And after this?  Who knows?

So here we are, celebrating another success by one of the Philippine Daily Inquirer's  Most Exciting Artists as of a few years ago. Obviously, he has remained exciting, if the buzz in the room and the quickly going, going gone collection is anything to go by.  If this goes on, the chances of me ever getting my hands on another Raymond Legaspi piece will be quite slim.  Perhaps, one's best bets is to make the trek to Bacolod City, where he is based, and snag a work of art while it is still drying on its easel.  That is, if one is ever fortunate enough to be ever invited to his studio.  (And that invite, I do have.  So watch out, Raymond.)

[Aquarium will run at the Ricco Renzo Gallery at the LRI Design Plaza, 210 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel Air, Makati City, until January 15, 2014) (FREEMAN)