A Fair of Fragile Limbs

by GNCH

Life is a circus, and Master Showman GNCH beckons you deeper into the madness with A FAIR OF FRAGILE LIMBS. In what he describes as an introductory chapter to his career and style, GNCH fills the world with his troupe of entertainers monochromatic yet vibrant with character. While his materials of choice pays homage to his initial financial struggles, they also draw inspiration from Fleischer Studios and other animated cartoons hailing from the Roaring 20’s. "I've always imagined myself in that dreamy-old fantasy-dystopian world," says GNCH as he conjures his magic with a singular task: "Reflect the opposite of my daily life.” And with his whimsical, delicate creatures that do not shy away from danger, it is hard to not feel compelled to grab a ticket, take a seat, and enjoy the show.

“A Sunflower For A Smile”
Graphite on paper
30 x 22 inches
2021

“Off to Fragile Land”
Graphite on Paper
22 x 30 inches
2021

“Head Eight”
Graphite on paper
22 x 30 inches
2021

“Love Cats”
Graphite on paper
15 x 22 inches
2021

“Blyde”
Graphite on paper
15 x 22 inches
2021

“Connie”
Graphite on paper
15 x 22 inches
2021

“C & C”
Graphite on paper
22 x 15 inches
2021

“Portin 1/14”
Graphite on paper
22 x 15 inches
2021

“Tore up the Smile”
Graphite on paper
22 x 15 inches
2021

About the Artist 

GNCH (Jen-ich)

GNCH is an artist based in Taguig City, Metro Manila. Backed by years of study in illustration and design, his works feature surreal figures reminiscent of cartoon characters that tread the line between the playful and unsettling.  

A self-taught artist by trade, Gen Lazaro is nonetheless as well-studied as many of his formally trained peers. After dropping out of a Multimedia Arts course in Mapua Institute, he fully dedicated his life to art, seeing it as his “way out” and a chance at building a successful career for himself. Now he goes by his artist name GNCH (Gen-ich), combining his name with the Nihongo “ichi,” for “one.”

GNCH spent five years training himself as an artist. He initially focused on concept art for films and games, which taught him the fundamentals for drawing. The artist began with graphite sketches and would then go on to work in gouache and digital mediums to practice in color, which he says took twice the work of his monochromatic pieces. Working in environmental design allowed him to both hone his basic skills while also challenging himself with increasingly complex subjects. Among his inspirations for this period were Korean artist Kim Jung Gi and concept artist Feng Zhu, of the FZD School of Design in Singapore.

The simplicity in the design of GNCH’s characters belie just how much preparation goes into each work. For the artist, preparation is one of the greatest tools in one’s artistic arsenal. His works can take as long as two weeks to complete, from the conceptual stages where he creates digital thumbnails as compositional studies, to his final, painstakingly refined renderings on paper and canvas. Graphite is often his medium of choice, harkening back to his early days as an artist where it was all he could afford. And now, having had several shows under his belt including an international show in Australia, GNCH has come a long way after starting from ground zero. When asked about advice for aspiring artists in similar positions he says, “Never let school interfere with your education.”

EXHIBITION FEATURED IN MANILA BULLETIN