The Carnival is Open Carnival (Series) 35in x 35in – Acrylic on Canvas. Courtesy of Galeria Paloma
Curated by Galeria Paloma, “Catching Paradise” will be a one-man show exhibiting Carlos’ artwork, alongside the release of a coffee table book, and a made-to-order handbag collection in collaboration with designer Ken Samudio.
After 11 years at The Link carpark, the 12th edition of Art Fair Philippines will be held amongst the diverse landscape of evergreen at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. As usual, the annual fair continues to champion and spotlight up-and-coming, mid-career, and established figures in the country’s contemporary art scene.
This year, Carlos Rocha, who is more widely known as the artist Carlos, will be celebrating his 75th birthday with an exhibition, debut coffee-table book, and collaboration with accessories designer Ken Samudio. Curated by Galeria Paloma, “Catching Paradise” will be a one-man show highlighting his journey through the medium of sculpture and painting.
Born in 1950, Carlos’ nucleus was an artistic one; his father, the modernist architect Julio Victor Rocha, Julio’s friends the National Artists Vicente Manansala and Victorio Edades, and Julio’s one-time draftsman Onib Olmedo, firmly influenced and cultivated his taste with modernist inclinations.
Carlos began his career as a sculptor in the 70s and 80s, sculpting figures such as fishermen, musicians, and bullfighters, with an emphasis on the nobility of work. In the 90s, he began painting his memories, emotions, and visions in the abstraction of Fauvism. Artworks filled with his energized view of the world, with pleasurable subjects and intensified color palettes.
At Art Fair Philippines, Carlos will be launching a coffee-table book containing almost 100 works of art, with forewords by Cid Reyes, an essay by Butch Abad, and a letter by his daughter Kimberly Rocha-Delgado.
In conjunction with the compilation, Carlos has partnered up with Ken Samudio, translating his vibrant paintings into bespoke, hand-crafted minaudières with his signature three-dimensional beadwork. Each handbag incorporates thousands of glass, acrylic, upcycled beads, with a production time of approximately 170 hours.
Born in the Philippines, Ken Samudio is a marine biologist by profession and decided to become a self-taught accessory designer, inspired by the beauty of the underwater world. He’s been featured in high-end publications and stocked by luxury retailers such as Moda Operandi, Bergdorf Goodman, Luisa Via Roma, Astolfo Venezia, and Harvey Nichols Dubai.
Before the opening, Vogue Philippines asks Carlos Rocha about his exhibition and collaboration with Ken Samudio in a Q&A below.
How does it feel to be celebrating your career as an artist with the “Catching Paradise” exhibition and the release of your coffee-table book?
I am deeply honored and grateful for this milestone, and especially appreciative of Galeria Paloma for bringing this book to life. Revisiting the artworks I created decades ago fills me with a profound sense of fulfillment and joy, and it is a testament to the fact that, even at 75, I continue to find the inspiration to paint and sculpt.
I selected the title Catching Paradise because, as I approach my twilight years, I have come to understand that happiness is not a distant, elusive destination but something we encounter in the present moment. Sometimes it is readily available, sometimes it requires effort, but it is always within reach.
What can you tell us about the new works you’ll be debuting at Art Fair Philippines?
In Catching Paradise, I ventured beyond my traditional color palette, exploring hues such as teal, purple, and pink, yet maintaining the joyful and romantic themes that are characteristic of the kind of work that I like creating. In my sculptures, while the subjects remain familiar, I thought I’d try new forms, celebrating both the grace of dance and music or the inherent dignity of labor.
Throughout your life as an artist, what inspires you the most about our landscape and culture?
That there is always something to celebrate. My Filipino-inspired themes often revolve around fiestas and family. And then other subjects cover the deep connections of love, whether between lovers or a mother and child. A favorite subject of mine, a carnival scene, appears in a couple of paintings, which to me encapsulates delight and joy and, well, fun! And always with your favorite company. The way we relish life is inspiring. Life can be hard, but taking time to appreciate the simple joys we enjoy is what makes it worth living.
I’d like to think that even if the scenes may be different in each painting, the spirit of celebration remains ever-present. Whether it’s a quiet moment in the woods, sharing a glass of wine while gazing at a landscape, or, in my sculptures, a tribute to the vitality of life. Or, it could be celebrating the grace of dance, fishermen with their daily catch, the dignity of honest labor, or a builder laboring to lift a stone that will become the foundation of something far greater than himself.
How did your collaboration with Ken Samudio begin?
I am now appreciating collaboration in art. I think the practice has always been rather solitary for many artists. But I’ve always been intrigued with how other artists would interpret my works. A few years ago, I collaborated with Isaiah Cacnio, who brought my artwork to life through animated digital films.
This time, with Ken, I knew that, like me, he is unafraid of color. And I always thought I wanted to incorporate my art into something wearable, but what exactly, I didn’t know. My daughters broached the topic of collaborating with Ken, and I was curious about how this would translate.
What were your first reactions to seeing your paintings translated into beaded minaudières?
I was delighted to see what Ken came up with. I feel that I found a kindred spirit in the love of color. I also can’t grasp how much intricacy goes into his work. There is so much to it than just sewing beads; he understands depth and gives it three-dimensionality. He is an artist himself.
If you had to pick one bag out of the series, which one is your favorite and why?
Ah! That is a tricky question! I can’t say any one piece is better than the other. To me, they are all equally beautiful and interesting and thoughtfully made.
Galeria Paloma’s “Catching Paradise” exhibition by Carlos will be at Art Fair Philippines from February 21 to 23, 2025.
