In Inuit mythology, “Inua” is a spirit or soul that exists in all living creatures; a representing life force. Animals have always been used in art as a metaphor– analogous to the human psyche and a depiction of wisdom, strength, and courage. Jerry Morada utilizes his sculptures as stand-ins for people to examine the human condition. As a rational being, a person’s emotions are often hidden through layers of physical disguise. However, Morada’s creatures wear their experiences on the outside, conveying various feelings through gesture and expression.
Animals are as individual as humans, and for Jerry Morada, compared to people, they manifest a purer and more genuine spirit to the outside world. Through his art, the artist intends to capture each animal’s personal uniqueness and purity, as well as the character of the species they represent.
The sculptures highlight the complexity of nature’s beastly characters, revealing dominance while at the same time conveyed with respect and admiration. Humans identify as separate from animals while also relating with them more than anything else on earth. Recognizing these contradictions, Jerry Morada’s sculptures reinterpret an animal’s designated classification, encouraging the audience to contemplate their individual identity, and celebrating the hybridization and broadening definitions of identity, character, and existence.
Morada (b.1979) graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts and made a name for himself as an emerging contemporary artist. He began his career working as an artist for Probe Productions, Inc., producer of the award-winning “Probe Team”. He is among the founders of the Guevarra Group together with Edwin Tres Reyes, Gig de Pio, and Dominic Rubio. Morada took part in Art Expo Malaysia 2009 under Galerie Joaquin’s booth.
In 2014, he won the GSIS Prize in Sculpture. Morada has always sought to fuse elements of abstraction and figuration in an engrossing configuration of texture, color and composition in his body of work.
“Inua: A Life Force” by Jerry Morada will be on view from May 29 to June 8 at the Galerie Raphael U.P. Town Center located at 2/F Phase 2 U.P. Town Center, Katipunan Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.
