As a painting which represents a seminal period in Ronald Ventura's impressive body of work, the current lot Commodity is an excellent representation of his breakthrough multi layered signature style.

Dominating the painting, the central figure of the female nude executed in a singular monochromatic tone which lends an almost ethereal quality which contrasts sharply with the sepia tones in the background.
The nude female form is celebrated throughout classical painting genres but in this instance is given a contemporary twist with a full array of imagery and multi layering. The pose of the female figure itself, with its leg drawn up is coquettish yet shyly erotic. There is an attempt to highlight an aura of virginal purity, but this is disturbed somewhat with the clowns creating a ruckus, beating drums as if making fun of the nude figure and in actuality drawing more attention to its nakedness. It lends as well a fevered air of competing with the central figure. Above on the right, another cartoonish figure looms, pudgy and angel-like, carrying a palette and brush, squirting black ink cartoonishly directly onto the face of the nude. It creates a sexual yet comical overtone to the work, and highlights the concealment and layering of different themes of identity and self within the painting.

Ronald Ventura has established himself as an inspirational contemporary Asian artist over the last few years. His artwork is distinctive, taking on the form of creating separated disparate elements which come and blend together as a measure of his storytelling and artistic process. In this earlier work in his artistic oeuvre, this is showcased by his immaculate painting technique as well as his use of contemporary motifs and imagery.