There’s a street on the wall (May kalye sa dingding)
José John Santos III
1996

This very early work – in fact the undergraduate thesis work of the artist in his student days – features Jose John Santos III's explorations in textured surfaces and appropriated iconography, which serve as the germ of many of his latter techniques and series. Grittier and less polished than his latter work, this canvas nevertheless provides us with a glimpse into the first movement's of the painter's trajectory. By “quoting” or lifting images from art history books and relocating them in the maze of a street that traverses monuments, arches and other landmarks of centuries past, Santos allows us to reexamine iconographical canons and masterpieces of art detached from their contexts of historical narrative. The artist then is able, to assign new roles and characteristics to these revered images, such as Mantegna's St Peter shuffling on as a pedestrian.  

Medium
Mixed Media on Canvas

Dimensions
122 x 275.5 cm (48 x 108.5'')