El Conquistadork
El Conquistadork: Portraits
Acrylic on canvas with Manila folder frames
2004
A Manila galleon made primarily of Manila file folders was successfully sailed by the artist in Tomales Bay, California to commemorate the famed trade route of 1565 through 1815 between Mexico City, Manila, and California. Based on one of the first intercontinental trade routes, the performance and installation is a humorous critique on contemporary and historic issues of colonialism and cultural exchange.
These commissioned paintings were painted by artists from the three significant locations that Manila Galleons made calls, Acapulco Bay (Juan-Luna Avin), Manila Bay (R. Dungo), and Monterey Bay (Sara Velas).
Photo: MCASD, Pablo Mason