Interesting handmade cast paper relief sculpture by noted Philippines artist Rodolfo Samonte (b. 1941). The following biography is from the National Museum of the Philippines:

Born in Manila in 1941, Samonte graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UST in 1964. The UST School of Architecture and Fine Arts (UST SAFA) was under the directorship of Victorio Edades during this period. Galo Ocampo and Cenon Rivera, who were part of the faculty of the UST SAFA, became his favorite professors. After graduation, the artist worked in a printing shop in Quezon City and eventually in advertising firms such as Advertising and Marketing Associates (AMA), and Ace-Compton Advertising. He received many recognitions and awards, including the annual art competitions by the Art Association of the Philippines and the PAP. In 1974, the City of Manila presented him with the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award for his artistic contributions. In 1979, he moved to the United States of America. Samonte now resides in Burbank, California.

This 1977 work is typical of the cast paper reliefs produced by Samonte in the 1970s. The following excerpt is from a review of an exhbition at the Luz Gallery in Manila, and describes Samonte's process for producing the cast paper reliefs:

Samonte now makes his own paper (the National Artist Teizuke Fuzikawa makes his paper from persimmon juice), rather reconstitute it from paper mash (paper mache) to which he adds his own ingredients like bleached cabbage leaves and so on, and with which material he now casts his curvilinear shapes.
It was Manuel Rodriguez of course, the father of Philippine printmaking, who started making his own paper for printmaking purposes in the early 60's. But it is Samonte who has now brought this technique onto the level of painting and sculpture as well, as these (the Paperwork series) are reliefs although placed under glass for protection against dust and the inquisitive finger.

This piece, titled "Peregrination I, #4" is signed and dated lower right. It measures10" x 10" (paper size) and is in good condition. A label from the Museum of Philippine Art is attached to the back of the frame.

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