Text by Stephanie Frondoso

The pop surrealist paintings of RA Tijing utilize storybook charm and symbolism for social critique. His ongoing series “Distant Travelers” illustrate the dangers faced by migrants in seeking greener pastures. In the largest painting, sheep are crammed into a boat—the sheep representing innocent migrants, their vessel unseaworthy, with the possibility of capsizing. Behind them in the distance are clues of war: missiles shooting into the air, fire, and smoke. And aboard with them is a fox, signifying a human trafficker. While migrants leave in desperation to find safety and economic security, they are victimized by syndicates who abuse their human rights. Characters such as fox in sheep’s clothing lure them with the meat and cheese of foreign lands, snake-like creatures hiding in the trees, sharks in the water, all portray paradise in disguise.

The “Portrait of a Traveler” series are symbolic portraits of migrants in life vests. One of the paintings depicts a migrant wearing a tire instead of a life jacket, showing the desperate need to escape even without proper safety essentials. In “The Stopover,” a mother sheep and her children pause to rest during their voyage. More snake-like creatures and kidnappers scouting them from behind trees serve as reasons why not all who travel in groups will survive.