Through essays, images, and his own writings, this collection captures the radical spirit of Santiago Bose, a visionary who made the past speak through the textures of the present.

A visionary and a master of reinvention, Santiago Bose (1949–2002) altered the landscape of Filipino contemporary art. Working across painting, installation, and performance, he disrupted colonial narratives and cultural hierarchies with an unmistakable mix of satire and material experimentation. Santiago Bose: Painter, Magician is the first book to bring together his artworks and writings, offering a profound look at an artist who defied conventions while drawing deeply from the textures of history and indigenous practice.

Featuring a definitive essay by renowned art historian Patrick Flores, this beautifully illustrated volume cements Bose’s legacy as a pivotal force in Southeast Asian art. His daughter, Lilledeshan Bose, contributes a personal biography, enlightening the life behind the artist’s bold vision. A selection of Bose’s essays, articles, and talks—many appearing in print for the first time—reveals his own reflections on art and resistance. Playful and still deeply political, Bose’s work remains as vital and urgent as ever.