At SM Aura Premier

Jefre beside his creation, the giant tarsier sculpture, at the entrance of SM Aura Premier.

Recent visitors to SM Aura Premier have been fascinated by four boldly colored giant sized sculptures designed by Filipino-American
 
contemporary artist Jefre Figueras. Standing five to six meters tall and made of steel painted in vibrant colors, these sculptures inspired by Philippine animals have since become favorite photo-op sites among mall goers.
 
Influenced by the stacking architectural ribbons and fluid interior spaces of SM Aura, the building form reminded the artist Jefre of the living, functional landscape of the countryside rice terraces. Each piece is visualized as a series of vertical stagnant lines, and as one rotates around the piece, the lines appear to extrude into a series of dynamic contour horizontal ribbons to metaphorically resemble various national animals of the Philippines.
 
The four contour sculptures were created in the form of the rooster, carabao, tarsier, and the Philippine Eagle. More than just exquisite sculptures, these animals were created by the artist to symbolize Filipinos aspirations and values.
 
Jefre describes the Philippine Eagle, one of the largest and most endangered species in the world, as a symbol of conservation and
 
hope; the red carabao, on the other hand, stands for hard work and strength. The blue rooster was designed as a symbol of pride and vibrance; while the green tarsier, which is found in the southern part of the archipelago, is considered by Jefre as one of the most enduring symbols of the Philippine islands.
 
“What inspired me to do these pieces was that the whole SM Aura building was based on the idea of layering, very similar to the rice terraces of Banaue in northern Philippines,” he said.
 
Jefre, a noted public artist, has constructed several site-specific artworks in cities around the world including London, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Abu Dhabi, San Antonio, and most recently Manila. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago prior to receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University; and was named one of seven “Faces of Design for 2007” by the Florida Inside Out architecture magazine for his environmental art and couture landscapes.

The larger-than-life sculptures are located at the Sky Park of SM Aura Premier while the tarsier is at the grand entrance of the mall.