In Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow, and Blue III, Annie Kabigting pays a powerful homage to Barnett Newman’s iconic 1967 work. She directly references Newman’s original while spotlighting its turbulent history, especially the 1986 vandalism by Gerard Jan van Bladeren, who violently slashed the painting. Kabigting brings this act of defacement—and the heated debates that followed over its controversial restoration—into sharp focus. Through her reinterpretation, she engages in an enduring artistic dialogue that spans generations. She underscores how artworks evolve over time, shaped not only by their creators but also by their cultural reception, challenges, and survival.

About the Artist:

Annie Cabigting, a Filipino contemporary artist, creates meticulous photorealist paintings that explore the dynamics between viewers and artworks. She often paints scenes of individuals observing works by renowned artists such as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Chuck Close. Through these depictions, she examines how we view and interpret art. She bases her paintings on photographs, which she enlarges and reproduces with precision, capturing the subtle details of both the artwork and the viewer’s interaction with it. Cabigting’s practice is characterized by a deep engagement with art history and a critical examination of the systems through which art is consumed.