Manuel Ocampo
Encyclopedia
Manuel Ocampo is a Filipino
artist. His work fuses sacred Baroque
religious iconography with secular political narrative. His works draw upon a wide range of art historical references, contain cartoonish elements, and draw inspiration from punk subculture
.
. He studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines
, then moved to Los Angeles, California
in the 1980s, where he studied at the California State University
. Ocampo has since moved to Seville, Spain.
, Géricault, Goya, Daumier with allusions to contemporary figures including political satirist R. Crumb Modernist painter Philip Guston
. Ocampo's dark, often disturbing Gothic paintings are attributed with transforming horror into exquisite beauty, history into art history, purgatory into salvation. One of his pieces featuring several swastika
s was censored at the Dokumenta
art show in Kassel, Germany.
Manuel Ocampo has exhibited extensively throughout the 1990s, with solo exhibitions at galleries and institutions through Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 2005, his work was the subject of a large-scale survey at Casa Asia in Barcelona, and Lieu d’Art Contemporain, Sigean, France.
Ocampo's work has been included in a number of international surveys, including the 2004 Seville Biennale, 2001 Venice Biennale
, the 2001 Berlin Biennale, the 2000 Biennale d’art Contemporain de Lyon, the 1997 Kwangju Biennial, the 1993 Corcoran
Biennial, and 1992's controversial Documenta IX. His work was featured in many group shows in the 1990s, including Helter Skelter: LA Art of the 1990s, at Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
in 1992; Asia/America: Identities in Contemporary Asian American Art at the Asia Society
, New York in 1994; American Stories: Amidst Displacement and Transformation at Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo in 1997; Pop Surrealism at the Aldrich Museum of Artin 1998; and Made in California: Art, Image, and Identity, 1900-2000 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
in 2000. He has received a number of prestigious grants and awards, including the Giverny Residency (1998), the Rome Prize
at the American Academy
(1995–96), National Endowment for the Arts
(1996), Pollock-Krasner Foundation
(1995) and Art Matters Inc. (1991).
It is important to note that Manuel Ocampo used to make art that criticized western colonialism through allegory and metaphor. Today, his work displays simple imagery and as the artist has stated "I was bored with that shit" about his 90s artwork.
Phillip Rodriguez directed a one-hour documentary of Ocampo's life and art career, Manuel Ocampo, God Is My Copilot.
Ocampo's 1992 painting "Why I Hate Europeans" was used as the cover art to the music album "Mythmaker
" by Skinny Puppy
.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
artist. His work fuses sacred Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
religious iconography with secular political narrative. His works draw upon a wide range of art historical references, contain cartoonish elements, and draw inspiration from punk subculture
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
.
Background
Manuel Ocampo was born in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
, then moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in the 1980s, where he studied at the California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
. Ocampo has since moved to Seville, Spain.
Art career
Ocampo frequently revisits and makes reference to the art historical canon of political allegorists including Leon GolubLeon Golub
Leon Golub was an American painter. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he also studied, receiving his BA at the University of Chicago in 1942, his BFA and MFA at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1949 and 1950, respectively.He was married to and collaborated with the artist Nancy Spero...
, Géricault, Goya, Daumier with allusions to contemporary figures including political satirist R. Crumb Modernist painter Philip Guston
Philip Guston
Philip Guston was a notable painter and printmaker in the New York School, which included many of the Abstract expressionists, such as Jackson Pollock and Willem De Kooning...
. Ocampo's dark, often disturbing Gothic paintings are attributed with transforming horror into exquisite beauty, history into art history, purgatory into salvation. One of his pieces featuring several swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
s was censored at the Dokumenta
Dokumenta
Dokumenta may mean:* the Rheinische Dokumenta, a phonetic writing system of West German Platt languages* Documenta, an annual modern arts exhibition, as per a common misspelling* Documents, in various languages...
art show in Kassel, Germany.
Manuel Ocampo has exhibited extensively throughout the 1990s, with solo exhibitions at galleries and institutions through Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 2005, his work was the subject of a large-scale survey at Casa Asia in Barcelona, and Lieu d’Art Contemporain, Sigean, France.
Ocampo's work has been included in a number of international surveys, including the 2004 Seville Biennale, 2001 Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, the 2001 Berlin Biennale, the 2000 Biennale d’art Contemporain de Lyon, the 1997 Kwangju Biennial, the 1993 Corcoran
Corcoran
Corcoran is an Irish surname. The original Gaelic version being Ó Corcráin meaning "descendant of Corcrán". The personal name Corcrán is a diminutive of the personal name Corcra...
Biennial, and 1992's controversial Documenta IX. His work was featured in many group shows in the 1990s, including Helter Skelter: LA Art of the 1990s, at Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is a contemporary art museum with three locations in greater Los Angeles, California. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall...
in 1992; Asia/America: Identities in Contemporary Asian American Art at the Asia Society
Asia Society
The Asia Society is a non-profit organization that focuses on educating the world about Asia. It has several centers in the United States and around the world Hong Kong, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, and Melbourne...
, New York in 1994; American Stories: Amidst Displacement and Transformation at Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo in 1997; Pop Surrealism at the Aldrich Museum of Artin 1998; and Made in California: Art, Image, and Identity, 1900-2000 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an art museum in Los Angeles, California. It is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles, adjacent to the George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits....
in 2000. He has received a number of prestigious grants and awards, including the Giverny Residency (1998), the Rome Prize
Rome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
at the American Academy
American Academy
American Academy can refer to:*American Academy in Berlin*Dubai American Academy*American Academy of Larnaca*American Academy in Rome*Üsküdar American Academy...
(1995–96), National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
(1996), Pollock-Krasner Foundation
Pollock-Krasner Foundation
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation was established in 1985 for the purpose of providing financial assistance to individual working artists of established ability. It was established at the bequest of Lee Krasner, who was an American abstract expressionist painter and the widow of fellow painter Jackson...
(1995) and Art Matters Inc. (1991).
It is important to note that Manuel Ocampo used to make art that criticized western colonialism through allegory and metaphor. Today, his work displays simple imagery and as the artist has stated "I was bored with that shit" about his 90s artwork.
Phillip Rodriguez directed a one-hour documentary of Ocampo's life and art career, Manuel Ocampo, God Is My Copilot.
Ocampo's 1992 painting "Why I Hate Europeans" was used as the cover art to the music album "Mythmaker
Mythmaker
Mythmaker is the tenth studio album by industrial group Skinny Puppy. It was released on January 30, 2007.Lead vocalist Nivek Ogre said the band took a simplified approach, but that it was a difficult record to make...
" by Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
.
External links
- Manuel Ocampo
- Artsenecal.com: Manuel Ocampo
- The Artist.org: Manuel Ocampo
- Shark's Ink.com: Manuel Ocampo
- Lizabeth Oliviera Gallery: Manuel Ocampo
- Giant Robot.com: Lunch with Manuel Ocampo
- City Projects: Manuel Ocampo
- Paule Anglim: Manuel Ocampo
- Salander O'Reilly/Fred Hoffman: Manuel Ocampo
- Art Contemporain: Manuel Ocampo
- Sprueth Magers Projekte: Manuel Ocampo
- 2nd Berlin Biennale: Manuel Ocampo
- 49th Venice Biennale
- Asian-American Film Database: Manuel Ocampo