charlie co: October 2011

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Charlie Co, born November 5, 1960, is a visual artist based in his hometown Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.
He is a co-founder of the Black Artists in Asia, a group known for its socio-political artworks in the 1980's - 1990's.
Charlie has represented the Philippines in international exhibitions such as the "Asian Modernism" at the Japan Foundation Asian Cultural Centre in Tokyo Japan in 1995, the 23rd Sao Paolo Biennial and the 2nd Asia Pacific Triennial in Queensland, Australia both in 1996,the 2nd Clay Symposium and Exhibition in Gifu Prefecture, Japan and the Taegu Art Festival in South Korea in 1997.
He was a finalist in the 4th Philip Morris Art Awards in 1997 and bagged the Juror's Choice in the 6th Philip Morris Art Awards in 1999.
He has exhibited in Australia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. He is known for his vibrant colored paintings, usually described as symbolical, allegorical and satirical but full of deep meanings. He describes himself as a chronicler of our times and expresses them in his artworks.
He has not limited himself, though, in using oil on canvas. He is also known for his mixed media works, combining terracota sculptures and oil on wood, oil pastel on paper and pen and ink works.
He is represented in both private and public collections of prestigious institutions here and abroad including the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum,Singapore Museum, Queensland Art Gallery,Metropolitan Museum and Lopez Museum in Manila and the Bencab Museum in Baguio Philippines.
He is currently running a local gallery in Bacolod City, Gallery Orange, a venue for upcoming local artists. His goal is to uplift the arts in his community and promote deserving artists giving them a space to expose their works.