This Halloween, people are busy making spooky decorations and outfits where they can use their creative abilities to the fullest. This is the time of the year when being spooky becomes the norm, which is both fun and scary.
Year-long, the art of painting has been one of the most compelling mediums that perfectly captures the Halloween spirit. Some artists specialize in artworks that depict death, blood, and ghosts—or anything in the same vein.
Igan d’ Bayan is a Filipino painter known for his works on death and horror. His pieces tell stories within themselves and include elements from pop culture, horror movies, and even history. His art career began with his first sold-out exhibition at The Crucible Gallery in 2006. For Igan, art is about expression and the process of creation.
Photos: Artes De Las Filipinas
Hex Aunzo, also known as “Hex Yeah,” is a Cebu-based artist with art pieces illustrating seemingly scary and playful figures, which are exaggerated and stylized oddly. The distracting colors and ordered chaos eliminate any creepiness the characters might possess, though, which infuses humor and twistedness into his chilling elements.
Photos: Hex Aunzo’s Instagram
FilipinoArtPH artists, such as Jennista Ranchez and Ritzmond Rei Depra, exemplify mental states with caricatured motifs of skulls and spirits.
In her work, Jennista says the ghosts portray the odd exchanges of two different times. They act as a visual metaphor for every individual’s deadweight, excess baggage, including regrets and fears or unresolved feelings, which may trouble a person if not dealt with.
As for Ritzmond, the canvas treats a theme of duality, the coexistence of opposites at peace, such as life, death, and beauty—and they’re rotting. One halved face exposes the skull, which is associated with death and mortality figures. Meanwhile, the other half presents a youthful face, which signifies liveliness.
Cover: Jilardon Bamba
— Toby Denise Concepcion
