Comics as high art redux: Legends and Villains returns to a gallery near you

Costumed crime fighters, edgy anti-heroes, and sinister villains from the realm of comic books have never looked this legendary.

 

Presented in the form of unique paintings and sculptures by contemporary Filipino artists, 35 images of the world’s greatest comic book heroes and villains will clash and collide across cities in “Legends and Villains 2,” the follow-up to the first superhero artwork touring exhibit organized by the Ricco Renzo Gallery in 2008. This time around, the exhibit will be presented in collaboration with local pop culture site FlipGeeks.

 

A kick-ass secret crisis of dreams, united

 

Majority of the characters featured in the exhibit hail from the two biggest American comic book companies, Marvel Comics and DC Comics. Using oil, acrylic, and other painting and sculpting materials on canvas, the artists put their own unique spin on each character, partially inspired by Hollywood’s steady stream of comic book movies in recent years.

 

Springing to life in the mighty Marvel manner are Captain America (by Paulito Garcia), Daredevil (by Jerico de Leon), Deadpool (by Marco Banares), Emma Frost (by CJ Tanedo), Ghost Rider (by Jim Orencio), the Guardians of the Galaxy (by Norlie Meimban), Hulk (by Thomas Daquioag), the Human Torch (by Simkin de Pio), Iron Man (in two flavors: a more modern armor by Grandier Bella and the Mark I armor by Ram Mallari), Mystique (by Giovanni dela Rosa), Psylocke (by Felix Petel Jr.), Rogue (by Aizle Esdicul), She-Hulk (by Eleanor Giron), Silver Surfer (by Sam Penaso), Spider-Man (by Joseph Balderas), Storm (by Jepoy Almario), Thor (by Eman Santos), Venom (by Chad Anthony Stamatelaky), War Machine (by JR Urao), and Wolverine (by Roen Capule).

 

Meanwhile, from the infinite reaches of the DC universe come Batman (by Norlie Meimban), Catwoman (by Adrian Evangelista), Green Lantern (by Mark Bello), Harley Quinn (by Mike Velasco), Joker (by Buddy Ching), Lex Luthor (by Rodel Jacintos), Poison Ivy (by Carmie Cucuenco), Superman (by Rodel Omampo), The Flash (by Mans Gonzales), Two-Face (by Janos dela Cruz), and Wonder Woman (by Simkin de Pio).

 

Other characters featured in the exhibit are Marvel imprint Icon Comics’ Hit-Girl (by Ronna Lara Bes), DC imprint Vertigo’s Sandman/Morpheus (by Gino Tioseco), and Image Comics’ Spawn (by Jojo Ramirez).

 

The stuff heroes (and villains) are made of

 

Bloggers were invited to a special sneak peak of the gallery on August 30, where some of the artists were able to explain the creative processes and ideas behind the art.

 

While some works of art such as Meimban’s Batman and Urao’s War Machine were based on the characters’ cinematic versions, others such as Ramirez’s Spawn and dela Cruz’s Two-Face were influenced by the artists’ own interpretations of the heroes and villains.

 

The exhibit, which will grace five SM Premier malls in various cities beginning September 13, will also showcase a free animation workshop for children, to be handled by the artists themselves.

— TJD, GMA News

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To know more about the details of the touring exhibit, contact the Ricco Renzo Gallery at 898-2545, or drop by the gallery at Suite 206, LRI Design Plaza, 210 Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel Air 2, Makati City.