{"status":true,"msg":{"data":{"id":60783,"auction_id":203,"set_id":236,"lot_number":"72","artist":"Jose Tence Ruiz (b. 1956)","title":"The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil: 1","starting_price":360000,"signed_dated":"signed and dated 2018 (bottom)","medium":"oil on canvas","size":"72\" x 68\" (183 cm x 172 cm)","property":null,"coa":"Accompanied by a certificate issued by Art Informal and signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot","provenance":"Art Informal","exhibited":null,"literature":null,"write_up":"A powerful visual interpretation of the Biblical Eden narrative placed in a distinctly Filipino and contemporary lens, National Artist Jose Tence Ruiz’s The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil attempts to place the biblical tree into the Filipino context—its localization immediately shifts the origin of sin, temptation, and moral awakening into the context of the Philippines itself. In this feature masterpiece, Ruiz presents the biblical origin of sin in two distinct tropical incarnations—each with its own interpretation of evil and its appeal to humanity. <br><br>Focusing first on the painting dominated by a central image of a banana tree on a yellow background that feels more acidic and toxic than radiant, Ruiz portrays the tree as a thin, tall flora—its leaves sag and darken as if it foreshadows what the fruit would bring to those who eat it. The bananas hang low on the trunk, as if tempting anyone to pick a piece.<br><br>Toxic and Deceptive, when the piece was treated as one of his recastings of religious symbols to directly comment on injustice, consumerism, and moral decay, Ruiz had perfectly captured this version as a reflection of corruption as something subtle and economic, seemingly abundant and beneficial on the outside, but equally toxic on the inside. On the other hand, Jose Tence Ruiz’s second painting transforms the forbidden tree into a dense, tropical coconut palm—thick, armored, and muscular. This time, Ruiz described the biblical tree as theatrical, immersive and mythical. The ominous, sharp growth on its trunk makes the subject seem monstrous and alive. <br><br>Sharp and crowded, Ruiz placed the central figure in front of a warm, glowing orange background, sharply combined with the dark purples, blacks, and reds of the tree. Resembling sunset, fire, or more fittingly, apocalypse. Seductive yet direct, Jose Tence Ruiz represents corrupting evil as organically predatory— something instinctive and seductively powerful to indulge. <br><br>Unlike the previous masterpiece, this one doesn't hide evil in something abundant or beneficial. Instead, the tree presents evil as innate—something seductively powerful to consume.<br><br>Both masterpieces were also painted by Ruiz in 2018, three years after the artist had participated in the 56th International Art Exhibition, representing the Philippines through an exhibition curated by Patrick Flores at the Venice Art Biennale in 2015, together with works by Manny Montelibano, Manuel Conde, and Carlos 'Botong' Francisco. His participation symbolizes the Philippines’ return after a 51-year hiatus, the last being in 1964 at the 32nd Venice Art Biennale with National Artists José Joya and Napoleón Abueva representing the country. (Mark John Castañeda)","lot_group":"PAINTING","lot_details_html":null,"alias":null,"hp":500000,"bp":0.2016,"isWithdrawn":0,"accounting_hp":500000,"userBid":34,"isPaid":0,"userId":34,"lot_status":"SOLD","isDone":1,"bid_history_id":19521,"reserve_price":0,"hammer_price":600800,"fav":0},"image":[{"id":66798,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/203/236/lot/72.jpg","isFeatured":1},{"id":67062,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/203/236/lot/72d.jpg","isFeatured":0},{"id":67061,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/203/236/lot/72c.jpg","isFeatured":0},{"id":67060,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/203/236/lot/72b.jpg","isFeatured":0},{"id":67059,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/203/236/lot/72a.jpg","isFeatured":0}]},"increment":[450000,500000,550000,600000,650000,700000,750000,800000,900000,1000000,1100000,1200000,1300000,1400000,1500000,1600000,1700000,1800000,1900000,2000000,2200000,2400000,2600000,2800000,3000000,3200000,3400000,3600000,3800000,4000000,4200000,4400000,4600000,4800000,5000000,5500000,6000000,6500000,7000000,7500000,8000000,8500000,9000000,9500000,10000000,11000000,12000000,13000000,14000000,15000000,16000000,17000000,18000000,19000000,20000000],"prev":71,"next":73,"count_bid":0,"bid_history":[],"tokenExpired":1}