Mariano Ching

Mariano Ching (Philippines, b. 1971) is a contemporary artist from the Philippines. Using painting, illustration, and printmaking techniques, Ching creates imaginary landscapes filled with fantastical figures and a profusion of symbols. There is a strong sense of humour and playfulness in his use of grotesque imagery and surreal motifs, but these belie multi-layered narratives embedded within his colourful compositions. Drawing from science fiction, popular culture, and Japanese anime, Ching’s works reveal the artist’s reflections on, and responses to, growing up and living in a relentless urban environment and the uncertainties and tensions this creates.

Ching holds a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines and studied Printmaking at the Kyoto Arts University in Japan. He was one of the members of the art collective and alternative art space, Surrounded by Water, which ran from 1998-2006. In 2006, he was one of the recipients of the prestigious Cultural Center of the Philippines Thirteen Artists Award, a triennial award given to outstanding young artists in the field of visual arts. He has participated in numerous exhibitions in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, France, and the United States.