Slowly, she unfurls: Anton Mallari’s Krisantemo

A nuanced entanglement of flesh, flora and fabrics—Anton Mallari’s eponymously named oil-on-canvas portraits for Krisantemo features female figures shown in different states of unfurling.

Like the densely packed layers of petals in most krisantemo (chrysanthemum) varieties, there are many facets to the female form and psyche.  Some continue to be dismissed, or crammed into molds that don’t fit.  There’s a pitting against modesty and openness, when the main point—having the mere freedom to choose—is often missed. This series celebrates the sacred, the profane, the beautiful, and the tragic. Such is the female body: collectively shaped by a long history of creation and destruction.

Inspired by the lush surrounds of the artist’s hometown—the flower capital of the north—Mallari continues to use his environment as a muse. With flowers as a naturally occurring symbol of yonic energy and fertility, women have a unique bond to the world. Like the persistent chrysanthemum that blooms nearly all year round, the resilience of women is often demanded, expected, and overlooked.

Similarly, we demand as much of the world, with our false sense of entitlement over possessing and controlling that which moves according to a greater rhythm. In the expressions of Mallari’s characters, there’s an ambiguity in the women’s expressions. Cursed and blessed by her own magic, she lies in wait. Dormant, but not destroyed. At her own season, she’ll bloom again.

– Nikki Ignacio