CONVERSATION PIECE
Months ago, commuters were puzzled to see an unknown statue covered in tarp towering along EDSA. It went viral online as Filipinos wondered what it is—and what it is for.
SM Megamall recently uncovered this mystery, unveiling a 12-meter, mirror stainless steel sculpture. Called “Time,” it depicts a man looking at his watch. It is a fitting piece to install along a highway where commuters and motorists are often stuck in traffic.
Revealed to be the work of Filipino-American artist Jefre, “Time” is part of his first signature works from the Baks series which was named after the phonetic pronunciation of the word “box” in American English. Its figures are archetypes representing people who give life and character to cities around the world.
The sculpture has points established across the figure’s body and are then connected by polyhedrons that create complex three-dimensional planes. The box-shaped head is also an iconic part of the artwork as it establishes the figure as a symbolic expression.
Through Baks, Jefre shows that people are the building blocks of the city. By converting the statue’s head to a block, he connects the figures to urban architecture.
“It’s about doing a piece that will let people know where the place is. And that's also why I won a lot, because
