{"status":true,"msg":{"data":{"id":61697,"auction_id":209,"set_id":242,"lot_number":"121","artist":"David \"Mr. StarCity\" White (b. 1979)","title":"The Flower","starting_price":2000000,"signed_dated":"dated 2013","medium":"mixed media on canvas","size":"60\" x 48\" (152 cm x 122 cm)","property":null,"coa":null,"provenance":null,"exhibited":"The Link at Ayala Center, Mr. Star City's 'Loverboy Series' at Art Fair Philippines 2024, Makati City, 16 - 18 February 2024","literature":null,"write_up":"A renowned artist known for his expressive and emotionally charged portraits that combine rough textures, exaggerated features, and symbolic imagery, David \"Mr. StarCity\" White presents a wonderful masterpiece—one that explores themes of vulnerability, healing, identity, and the human connection while maintaining a sense of positivity and hope underneath each brushstroke.
Dominated by a large human face with disproportionate facial features, the most striking detail that could be immediately noticed at first glance is the enormous pair of black eyes—both are painted in different ways, giving an unsettling yet vulnerable quality, as if it's looking ahead, seemingly observing or trying to understand the world they see. The skin was roughly applied in colors of gray, white, brown, and black as if it was made to feel raw and vulnerable.
The natural—almost biomorphic shapes of the skin that seemingly fit together like puzzle pieces possibly reflect how negativity often stains or fragments oneself, hinting at internal complexity. Rather than simply reproducing someone's physical appearance, Mr. StarCity's expressionistic approach further communicates vulnerability and insecurity through the piece.
The red flower is just as important in the painting. Placed against the otherwise muted face and mouth, the symbol of love, beauty, growth, and healing is expressed without ABOVE: Mr. Star City with The Flower. © Photo by Kieran Punay for Vogue Philippines words, which fits Mr. StarCity's use of art as a form of emotional healing. Expressing vulnerability beyond words.
The green stem being held by the person amplifies the hopeful imagery of the red flower—its color palette contrasts against the gray and dark face, introducing an element of hope and renewal from what is supposed to be a vulnerable image.
In this sense, Mr. StarCity's masterpiece could be seen as an expression of vulnerability as something liberating rather than shameful. With images and symbolism tying around a singular theme of finding love and connection through vulnerability, the masterpiece reflects the artist's belief that allowing oneself to be vulnerable creates a space of mutual support, compassion, and love during difficult moments. The piece's dominant, exposed, and distorted face holding a red flower with tenderness and love to cover their mouth shows how vulnerability can ultimately become a source of connection and growth rather than weakness. (Mark John Castañeda)","lot_group":"PAINTING","lot_details_html":null,"alias":null,"hp":0,"bp":0.2016,"isWithdrawn":0,"accounting_hp":0,"userBid":null,"isPaid":0,"userId":34,"lot_status":"UNSOLD","isDone":1,"bid_history_id":null,"reserve_price":3600000,"hammer_price":0,"fav":0},"image":[{"id":68595,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/209/242/lot/121.jpg","isFeatured":1},{"id":68989,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/209/242/lot/121a.jpg","isFeatured":0},{"id":68784,"img_url":"https://leongallery.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/v2/auction/209/242/lot/121b.jpg","isFeatured":0}]},"increment":[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":120,"next":122,"count_bid":0,"bid_history":[],"tokenExpired":1}