SPACE AND TIME AS SCULPTURE
Time Sculpture, by Filipino-American public artist Jefre Manuel Figueras, depicts a man looking at his watch, a reminder that time is valuable
SM Malls have been known as a cultural space with Art Walk and Art Center in SM Megamall, as well as cultural events held in different branches. Recently, they have installed public art such as the iconic Globe at the SM Mall of Asia, the Cube at SM City Seaside Cebu, Cubi by National Artist Arturo Luz at the Podium, and the colorful Philippine animals at the Skypark at SM Aura Premier. Now comes Time Sculpture, a 12-meter tall work designed by Filipino-American public artist Jefre Manuel Figueras.
Time Sculpture, unveiling in front of SM Megamall on 29 July, depicts a man looking at his watch, which Jefrë wants to be a reminder to people that time is valuable. Even when stuck in traffic, people should learn how to respect time by using it productively.
The giant sculpture is part of Baks Series, Jefrë’s first signature works. The Baks
Series was named after the phonetic pronunciation of the word “box” in American English. Its figures are archetypes representing people who give life and character to cities around the world.
The sculpture made with mirror stainless steel has points established across the figure’s body and are then connected by polyhedrons that create complex, three-dimensional planes.
The box-shaped head is also an iconic form of the artwork, establishing the figure as symbolic expressions. For Jefrë, people are the building blocks of the city and by converting the statue’s head to a block, the artist connects the figures to urban architecture.
Some of Jefrë’s works in the Philippines include Talking Heads,a permanent installation featuring six large sculptures at the lobby of SM Prime’s Five Ecom Center Building With the opportunity to create a landmark along Edsa, SM Supermalls teamed up with Jefrë to make something of presence, to have something on pedestrian scale as people don’t really look at the building from the ground floor.
The permanent art sculpture at SM Megamall, like other public art installations, aims to foster understanding of the history of the city and its people, as well as to establish forms that best represent the city.
An award-winning public artist based in Chicago, Illinois, Jefrë’s family hails from San Pedro, Laguna and Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur. He creates art that helps identify cities and places. For him, it’s an opportunity to use art more than decoration but also to provide a sense of place and opportunities to induce emotion for visitors of the place. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Ohio State University, and Architectural Association in London. In 2012, he was named Emerging Artist of the Year and has won in various monumental sculpture competitions in Washington DC, New Orleans, San Antonio, London, Rome and Miami.
Some of Jefrë’s works in the Philippines include Talking Heads, a permanent installation featuring six large sculptures at the lobby of SM Prime’s Five Ecom Center Building; and larger-than-life sculptures of carabao, eagle, rooster and tarsier at SM Aura Premier.