Michael Cacnio (b. 1969)
Flower Vendor
signed and dated 2005
brass
23" x 7 1/2" x 5 1/2" (58 cm x 19 cm x 14 cm)


León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirmingthe authenticity of this lot.




Growing up as a child in Malabon in the 1950s, Michael Cacnio enjoyed observing the sprawling view of the then-municipality from the rooftop of his grandmother's house. There, he would occasionally witness the ordinary Filipino in their everyday routines—the magtataho repeatedly and tirelessly shouting in the morning the iconic "Taho!" while carrying two large buckets of the sweet delicacy; children playing native games under the heat of the sun; flocks of families enjoying a simple yet tender bonding; and all sorts of vendors busily earning a living. Cacnio's brass sculptures serve as creative and visual reminisces of his childhood neighborhood. His fascination with our native customs and traditions also stems from his father's works, Angel Cacnio, whose genre pieces reflect the heritage and values of Philippine folk living. The younger Cacnio's extensive body of work features an array of traditional Filipino figures, such as this piece titled Flower Vendor, depicting a woman holding a basket of flowers. The woman's lofty posture visually echoes the philosophical concept of dignity of human labor. Her face is deliberately left blank, exuding a feeling of impartiality that we can employ to establish rapport and commune with the people we encounter daily. (A.M.)