Dreams of speaking

Marble, engraving
38.1 x 61 x 7 cm each
(15 x 24 x 2.75 in each)

2020

In this series of four marble pieces, two have text traditionally engraved by hand and the other two have drawings engraved by machine. Both of these manual and mechanical processes were carried out by a gravestone maker Cao had worked with on a recent project.

The text consists of a selection of Filipino idioms that ascribe material descriptions to the body, such as matalas ang dila, magaan ang loob, mababa ang luha. This assembly of descriptions cannot describe any one person, exploring instead the relationship between language and materiality.

The drawings are representations of grass: one based on a digital scan of a specimen that was then interpreted by the machine; the other based on other people’s drawings at the artist’s request, that was then drawn by the machine onto the marble. Cao considers grass as particularly ordinary and familiar, something every seeing person has seen and has experienced drawing. (LC)


MO_Space at ALT Philippines 2020
curated by Nilo Ilarde
SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Taguig City
13-16 Feb 2020

Documentation courtesy of MO_Space


Photo: Tricia Caisip (Right: Lani Maestro)