Have you ever had one of those days?  When everything that could possibly go wrong just does?  Welcome to Raymond Legaspi’s new series of paintings on the subject of unfortunate events.  The Bacolod-based artist explores irony, hyperbole and more tongue-in-cheek poking of fun at convention with this latest collection.  Watch as cosmic karma catches up with a little sausage dog who steps on his own poop, or a blazing red fire truck that is itself now on fire, or an angel falling in anguish. More hilarity ensues when Raymond’s parade of trademark plump men and women embark on adventures such as a lovers’ quarrel at the beach is exaggerated by an upcoming storm, a sinking ship, and a shark attack in the background. Unfortunate situations are rendered joyously and vividly in Legaspi’s world.

Raymond first broke onto the art scene in 2007 after 20 years in advertising as an art/creative director with an array of local and international creative awards.  He quickly garnered a following after his first series, “Daster”, which depicted pleasingly plump provincial ladies wearing telling patterns or stories on their local “daster” dresses.  Since then, Raymond has had successful exhibits in Bacolod, Manila and Singapore.  Raymond has recently received an award from Nokia and the Philippine Daily Inquirer as one of the country’s 10 most exciting young artists.

Raymond Legaspi’s show Unfortunately opens at the Alliance Française Total Gallery on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, until March 25, 2010.

Alliance Française de Manille, 209 Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel-Air II, Makati City, Philippines (http://www.alliance.ph/)
Gallery days and hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 6pm; Friday, 9am to 2pm; Saturday, 9am to 5pm; and closed on Sundays and Holidays.