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The Ascent of the Forgotten Self

The Ascent of the Forgotten Self

Regular price ₱52,000.00
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Type

Oil on Canvas

Size

36" x 24"

Year

2025

Estimated deliver 5-7 days

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The stairways positioned above the faceless man in a suit are a direct homage to Cesar Legaspi’s post-war masterpiece The Stairway—his visual lament for the devastation brought by World War II in the Philippines. Here, the faceless man becomes a mirror of the collective self—anonymous, lost, and still yearning for a grounded identity in a world that constantly redefines us.
Behind him stands a massive, cold cube, symbolizing our cultural comfort zone—sterile and imposing, yet oddly familiar. It embodies the habits, beliefs, and inherited systems we uncomfortably cling to, even when they no longer serve our growth. From this box, golden spikes—my symbol for Anastasis (resurrection or rising again)—begin to crawl out. They are the fragile truths and long-lost hopes trying to pierce through numbness and inertia.
The crowned woman, the only figure who engages with these spikes, swallows them as they emerge from a red rose—an emblem of unconditional love. She becomes both the vessel and the sacrifice—digesting truth and hope so they may once again become part of us.
Meanwhile, the figure with a vintage television for a head, featuring an all-seeing eye on its screen, reflects the ways we’ve been overtaken by cross-cultural confusion—a result of colonization’s lingering shadow. The TV represents passive consumption, while the eye is the symbol of omniscient observation—the one who sees through everything, even when we pretend not to.
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Angelo Roxas

Angelo Roxas

I'm Angelo Valmoria Roxas-an artist on a continuous quest to uncover the truths hidden beneath the surface. My work is shaped by a deep exploration of the illusions that influence our perceptions, the false stories that form our identity, and the systems of power we often fail to challenge. Central to my art is the crown-used not as a symbol of royalty or success, but as a reflection on self-identity, hierarchy, and the unseen forces that govem our lives.

The crown has always fascinated me. It symbolizes both adomment and burden, a mark that elevates yet confines. Over time, it has come to represent the false consciousness I see distorting our understanding of the word. We frequently assign meaning based on extemal approval instead of inner value, and the crown embodies this misconception. My artwork strives to peel away these layers, urging viewers to confront not just the symbol, but the truths it conceals.

Art has always been my way of engaging with the world, questioning it, and trying to make sense of its complexities. My pieces aren't just reflections of society, but investigations of its distortions— the myths we live by, the invisible power dynamics, and the consciousness we often overlook.

In addition to visual art, I've expressed myself through storytelling. My background in writing for television has influenced the way I approach both mediums. In each, I aim to deconstruct the narratives that shape our lives and expose the truths often buried beneath them.

As my joumey continues, I remain committed to delving into the intersections of perception, identity, and power. The crown remains central to my work—a symbol of the forces that shape us, the illusions we hold, and the ongoing search for clarity.

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