In a remarkable departure from his distinguished almost-six-decade career, National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto Cabrera, most commonly known as BenCab, boldly ventures into uncharted artistic territories with an exploration into metal work though his latest exhibition “SERIES 8: The Muses.”

Collaborating with Abitare Internazionale, this creative alliance serves as a testament to his evolving artistic prowess. Altro Mondo Creative Space is set to host this groundbreaking exhibit, providing a fitting backdrop to showcase BenCab’s foray into the realm of metal sculptures.

The journey launched six years ago with the BenCab + Moooi Carpets project, sparking a creative kinship. Immersed in BenCab’s distinctive style—Filipino yet contemporary, graphic, and vibrant—the collaborators stumbled upon the masterpiece, the painting titled “Dance Interpretation.” Intrigued, ideas sprouted, birthing a three-dimensional vision.

Initially envisioned as just metal sculptures, each singular, one-of-a-kind creation underwent a distinctive transformation as BenCab applied his direct, personal touch through paint. Starting first from single brushstrokes, these evolved into a myriad of patterns and colors, the metal transforming into the canvas upon which his artistic vision thrived.

In line with this, Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea presents the ICONS series, an ode to the luminaries who shape the Philippine art scene.

The first artist to be featured in this series, is the venerable BenCab, whose transcendent contributions to the world of art, spanning almost 60 years, make him an unparalleled icon.

BenCab’s artistic journey, marked by dynamic shifts in style and mediums, mirrors an insatiable curiosity.

Bencab’s latest exhibit, SERIES 8: The Muses, will formally open to the public on December 12, 2023, at the Altro Mondo Creative Space, where BenCab’s metal sculptures, born from a spontaneous collaboration, come alive.