Danielle Katareene G.

Factura English 103 12-Alenio A

Kaban
Michelle H. Lua

October 4, 2012
Dimensions:
Height - 51 cm
Width - 43 cm
Depth - 42.5 cm

Mixed media sculpture (Copper and Gypsum Plaster (Plaster of Paris))

Insights/Judgement
Write a paragraph of not less than 200-300 words containing your insights.

Description
In the artwork “Kaban” by Michelle H. Lua, what we can observe from the sculpture is that
the face seems to be a male subject in its features, with both eyes closed and a gaping
mouth. Aside from that, one eye-catching feature of this artwork is the tin basket being put
through the head of the subject, seemingly replacing the place of where the brain is normally
placed in a human subject. What can also be noticed in the art is that it is missing the lower
part of its body, missing the chest portion until the legs and feet area. The subject is only
shown in its upper body proportions, from the shoulders and up. The medium used is mixed
media, which the subject was made from Copper and Plaster of Paris, a kind of gypsum
plaster consisting of a fine, white powder that hardens when moistened and allowed to dry.
With the use of these materials, Michelle Lua salvages materials and practices creative
reuse in her art because they all have a story behind them. With all that mentioned, all
elements of art (color, form, line, space, texture, and value) are used within the artwork.
Analysis
Based on the elements of art that were used in the sculpture, the color is highlighted into a
golden brown, which is the color of copper. Furthermore, it seems that the color of the
subject (the man) and the color of the tin basket are the same as it is infused into the head of
the subject. Aside from that, the form of the subject is a human male. In connection, the lines
and shapes are molded into that of what was previously mentioned, a human male, tilting his
head upwards, with a tin basket infused through his head. The way the male is put upright
and has not fallen to the sides shows that it is sturdy and can balance itself on a flat surface.
The face is also very intricate and details the human body from the shoulders up. The
texture looks very smooth for the face, tine basket, and upper body, however, it seems that
at the end of the sculpture, the texture seems a bit rough and on one shoulder, it seems a bit
hair-like and broken off, yet it is molded well into the art piece. Lastly, the values of lightness
and darkness are evident in the picture as the light is focused on the subject’s face and the
shadows follow downwards, seemingly highlighting only the face and the tin basket. With
that, it is evident that contrast, emphasis, movement, unity, and balance are put into the
artwork by the artist.

Interpretation
Overall, I personally believe that the meaning of the artwork is exhaustion, and over time, as
the tiredness builds up, the mind becomes heavy, like the tin basket, as due to personal
struggles or due to environmental circumstances, the brain or mind becomes empty, with
nothing that fills it. The person cannot work, cannot think, and cannot speak in their right
mind. For me, that mental exhaustion is represented by the tin basket or the “Kaban”,
seemingly overweighing the mind of the individual, yet it is empty. This is also supported as
the subject’s head is tilted upwards, mouth agape, and eyes sealed shut. It seems that the
person shows the heaviness or weight of the ‘Kaban’ through his expression, seemingly
exhausted. Aside from that, the belief of not being able to work with a heavy and empty mind
can be supported by the absence of the man’s body, and the limbs that should be present in
order for an individual to properly function and work. Yet, what can only be seen is the face,
neck, and shoulders, showcasing that the individual can only breathe to support the body he
has. The mood it showcases seems to show lifelessness, hanging on to only breathing with
the heavy weight of the mind. In some cases of similar positions being shown, it is mostly
seen in newspaper articles or comical drawings, indirectly showing how individuals in power
work. However, in stark contrast to those visuals, the man here does not have anything
being placed in the tin basket, which the end product would come out of his mouth. Despite
that, there is nothing. In terms of the historical and cultural context of the Philippines, I would
say the ‘Kaban’ itself, which is made out of copper and other mixed media, would be an
object that would connect or relate to the said context. As the color of both the man and the
‘Kaban’ is the same golden brown, it definitely represents the skin color of Filipinos, working
hard in the light of day. This could also connect to the concept of exhaustion from working.
Another thing is that copper, which is mostly used throughout the sculpture, is one of the first
main metals that was used in the Philippines during the Spanish-Colonial Times. The metal
was mostly used for ornamentation however, I am not entirely certain if they made baskets
like the ‘Kaban’ as what is most common is the cultural, basket weaving using bamboo and
other raw materials. With that, as the emphasis is put on the face and the ‘Kaban’, it
ultimately presents the exhaustion of working, presumably during the mining works of the
Spanish-Colonial era.
Judgment
Personally, I find the artwork very intriguing as I believe there are even more in-depth
understandings and explanations which can be interpreted by the artwork. As it is simply a
male head infused with a ‘Kaban’, it holds much greater meaning than that of its physical
appearance. I also very much like this artwork as sculpture art is something I wish to explore
more when it comes to the different mediums of art. Now, although I may have given my own
interpretation, I find artworks such as this one to be very unique and creative, in the sense
that it uses scavenged materials that people find as ‘garbage.’ However, another man’s trash
is another man’s treasure, and Michelle H. Lua presented that concept deeply in her art. I
find myself appreciating that immensely. Furthermore, in my opinion, I believe that the
artwork is a bit lacking when it comes to successfully conveying the message or intention it
wishes to communicate to the audience. As I had said before, I believe that this artwork has
many other different interpretations however perceive it differently. As art appreciators or
simply, people who look into the artwork, do perceive the artwork differently due to the
different perceptions and experiences they have when it comes to finding personal relevance
and relating to the artwork, I believe that whatever main meaning or message the artist
wishes to communicate towards the audience is not completely clear. It is much uncertain,
especially if the artwork can be considered to others as unfinished. Aside from the many
perceptions, many can also find this artwork ‘messy’ or it is not aesthetically pleasing. That
can be understood as it may be one of the concepts the artist is trying to achieve with the
sculpture. With that, I believe the value of this artwork towards its relevance in contemporary
society today would be that it is an artwork which many people can have their own different
interpretations of it, transcending the concept of art only having one, definite meaning. This
has a lot to do with contemporary society because it defines who we are as people and
affects how we react to our past and current cultures. Transcendence allows us to explore
beyond ourselves. As art conveys our innermost ideas, feelings, and experiences, it is
frequently used to depict the artists' secret world and worldviews when it is presented to the
public.