Born and raised in Manila, Richard Arimado (b.1970)
Paints birds-eye views of nostalgic street scenes, and takes his audience on a journey of perspective, showing masterly street scenes from above with his figures looking up. Arimado’s distinct compositions use turn-of-the-century motifs that give his paintings a nostalgic aura that is only enhanced by his playful treatment of perspective. Richard Arimado was born and raised in Manila and has always had an inclination towards the visual arts, studying Drafting Tech at the Technological Institute of the Philippines, and later Advertising at the Panday Sining Art Study Center. The defining characteristic of Arimado’s art is that of a perspective. Arimado paints his subjects from the top view, in the act of looking up, pausing as if to examine the audience staring down at them. His vision of turn-of-the-century motifs shows a strong nostalgic tendency of our cultural past and of the artist's, as Arimado explores various aspects of the Philippine way of life. Internationally, Richard Arimado is gaining much recognition in the art scene. In the recently-held charity auction of International Care Ministries in Hong Kong, Arimado’s 30 x 36 oil on canvas painting “Old Manila” fetched HK$39,800, or Php211,000.