Dead Relatives

Dead Relatives opened July 9th at the Black Book gallery in Denver, Colorado. Dead Relatives is a collaborative show of artists  Philip Lumbang and Ernesto Yerena. The two artists combine their own unique styles to create characters that are inspired by Day of the Dead imagery.

Animals are our relatives. Dead Relatives is a special look at death, as a satire. Usually a taboo subject in many cultures, Mexican traditions revere death. Death is celebrated, it is humorous. The Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) patterns embodied by the endearing silhouettes of chosen animals set a cunning tone to the show.

The styles of Ernesto Yerena and Philip Lumbang contrast and compliment. Whether the animal is mythological or culturally relevant, each animal carries a message that the artists would like for the audience to ponder. The dynamics of the artists collaboration result in striking imagery with two different styles working in perfect balance.