Art Lounge Manila is pleased to present the launch of Michael Cacnio’s latest series ANIMATE, a homage to Jeff Koons, featuring a delightful menagerie of balloon animals rendered in stainless steel. A 2006 TOYM Awardee, Cacnio has received commercial success for his art, not only in the Philippines, but in many countries around the world. Recognized most for his brass sculptures which depict the simple joys of ordinary Filipino life, his works are peopled with vendors, mother and child tandems, father and child compositions, the bounty of nature, children playing, and a particular favorite by both collectors and the general public, his children with glass balloons. For the artist, balloons signal special occasions and celebrations, as well as childlike wonder, innocence, and joy. It is no wonder then, that in his exploration of the sculptural medium of stainless steel, he continues his fascination for balloons with balloon animals, as both his personal artistic expression, and as a nod to one of the artists whose works he personally admires, Jeff Koons.

Cacnio recalls how seeing the metallic balloon animal sculptures in New York years ago brought childlike wonder in him too. A fan of all things that stimulate childlike joy, he has created earlier works using stainless steel that follow this vein of inspiration. In 2011, on the occasion of his 20 th year in the arts, he collaborated with Lego for INSPIRE, and created stainless steel Lego bricks which were included with his usual brass sculptures of children stacking them together. This collaboration inspired him to create stainless steel sculptures reminiscent of the Lego man a few years after. It was also during that time that he started his series which included glass balloons. In 2018, fascinated by the digital game Candy Crush, he created a series inspired by the candies easily recognizable shapes of the various sweets in the game. ANIMATE, continues in this joyful celebration, and presents various toy balloon animals rendered in Cacnio’s unique style. Some are small enough to be tabletop sculptures, while others are larger than life; all will surely animate any space and inspire joy.

Michael Cacnio’s ANIMATE will be on exhibit at Art Lounge Manila, Ground Flr, The Podium, ADB Ave. cor. J. Vargas St. Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, from March 10 – 24, 2020 with opening reception on March 10, Tuesday 6pm.

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