The vibrant ecosystem of a small Filipino island merges with the haunting memories of California’s prison system in the dreamlike creations of Gil Batle. A completely self-taught artist, Batle developed his craft during 25 years of incarceration, engaging in drawing and covert tattooing. Now residing in his parents’ homeland, he continues to contemplate the years spent in confinement.
Batle’s latest collection, Double Life, delves into his dual experiences. On white porcelain plates, he crafts eerie and unsettling scenes where violence and a yearning for freedom are omnipresent. Bird cages, symbols of captivity, are prevalent, accompanied by chains, barbs, and shivs that haunt these depictions.
By using such a common yet fragile material, Batle creates a poignant setting for his blue acrylic artworks. The delicate porcelain highlights life’s fragility and serves as a symbol of conventional notions of civility and propriety. Placing these domestic items alongside scenes filled with conflict and harshness offers a unique perspective on humanity’s persistent brutal tendencies.
Double Life is on display until August 21 at New York’s Ricco/Maresca, a contemporary gallery dedicated to outsider, self-taught, and folk artists.
