Public Artwork by JEFRË Opens in Manila
Jefre Manuel Figueras, who goes by the name JEFRË, has been commissioned by property giant and The Philippines' largest mall developer, SM Prime Holdings, to create four sculptures at upscale shopping mall in Manila, SM Aura. JEFRE is the first artist to have worked with SM Prime. The sculpture series opened to the public in December 2015.
This is the first time SM Prime has commissioned an artist to create a public artwork. Titled Contour Sculpture Series, the works are located at various locations at SM Aura. The works are inspired by the stacked architectural ribbons and fluid interior spaces of the mall that resemble the tiered and striated hillsides of The Philippines' iconic rice terraces. The sculptures stand tall at five to six meters and are made from colorful ribbon-like strips of metal that are layered one on top of the other to create a contoured effect. These works take the form of four culturally symbolic animals: the eagle, the carabao, the rooster, and the tarsier. The effect of these layers is striking because as the perspective and position of the viewer changes, the sculpture reveals itself as it morphs into the full shape of the animal.
Florida-based JEFRË is ethnically Filipino and a noted public artist. He has constructed several site-specific artworks in cities around the world including London, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Abu Dhabi, and San Antonio. As a designer and public art initiator, his design solutions originate from a deep understanding of the historical, environmental, social and contextual relationships influencing the site and the architecture. "It was important to me as an artist to integrate a series of visitor destinations that define each public space and enhance the overall shopping experience. The design concept of 'the mall' in the Philippines is similar to a public park or civic square. I wanted to create cultural moments within that are extensions of both the architecture and the country's heritage."
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