A solo exhibit by Richard Buxani
July 12 to 25, 2023
Galerie Anna
4F SM Megamall Bldg. A
Mandaluyong City
“If you put an empty gourd on the water and touch it, it will slip to one side. No matter hozv you try, it won’t stay in one spot. The mind of someone who has reached the ultimate state does not stay with anything, even for a second. It is like an empty gourd on the water that is pushed around” Takuan, Japan (1573-1645)
The greatest enemy of any person is himself. Be it with greed, jealousy, hubris, or any self-sabotaging tendencies, we often wage war on ourselves for the wrong reasons. In history, figures like Napoleon Bonaparte brought their own downfall because they did not know when to stop conquering others. While people like Margaret Thatcher held back multiple times, got criticized by her own people on not making drastic economical moves, and slowly calculated her way to the top strategically. However, one problem an individual usually gets overwhelmed with that often causes paralysis is stagnancy.
In fact, even in human history, evolving from old to new is the key surviving factor that took our species from hunter-gatherer nomads to the society we have today. Various cultural periods shaped epochs from ancient times to modernity. Mankind experimented with various mediums and elements that eventually lead to discoveries that structured the tools and ideas we are utilizing to this day. From the Stone age to our modern age, life became easier and more comfortable which resulted into stagnancy and aimlessness in life. We became too lenient with our surroundings, knowledge, and mastery.
Different school of thoughts have discussed this phenomenon but sooner or later, everyone experiences it. Only when we wage war on ourselves will it flourish into success. Same goes with creative and artistic stagnancy. People who are in the creative industry battle the endless need to improve and dominate their industries. A successful singer is always pressured to write the next big hit, a writer is always in the constant state of transcribing the next classic, and a visual artist travails mental blockages that stops them from finding patrons. And like water, it is hard to grasp whether you will succeed or not – all you need to think about is how you want to move forward and create an new era for yourself.
“Age of Copper” is Richard Buxani’s manifesto of his artistry. Refusing to stay in one scene, Buxani explores his new artillery in sculptural art; deconstructed copper mixed affinity of architecture and valor, his works of gallantry and splendor are always a show of his groundedness in his art combined with his refusal to have limitations in his prowess. Aiming to surpass the idleness and experimenting with the limitless possibilities in his art, has time and time proved himself a master of metallurgical arts. This, combined with his with brass and steel. Buxani is no stranger on manipulating metal of different kinds. He Buxani launches a new age in his journey.
Exhibition notes by Justine Harley
