Oro, Plata, Mata

2024 | Boston Art Gallery | Philippines

Gold plays a prominent role in contemporary myths about hidden wealth and fortune. Like the Tallano gold myth that led hundreds to gather in front of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas this past May to claim hidden wealth, many stories on gold stimulate human imaginations. Our fascination with gold also fuels the illegal and life-threatening gold mining operations throughout the Global South.

The title Oro, Plata, Mata comes from the Spanish and Filipino superstition that says the stairs of a house should not be designed in multiples of three. According to the belief of Oro, Plata, Mata, having the last step land at oro (“gold”) or plata (“silver”) is thought to bring good luck to one’s home. However, if one were to follow the imitation gold bars like a set of stairs, they would land on mata (“death”). This is believed to be a bad omen. In the same vein, our greed, our exploitation of human labor, and our excessive extraction of natural resources lead us to our inevitable misfortune.

“In the sculptural work, ‘Oro, Plata, Mata’ (2024), imitation gold bars are arranged to echo ascending steps, alluding to the dream of moving up the financial ladder. Culled from the Spanish and Filipino superstition of the same name that warns against designing stairs in multiples of three,  Oro, Plata, Mata intentionally places the last step on ‘mata’ (death), as opposed to ‘oro’ (gold) or ‘plata’ (silver), as a reminder that clinging to the false narrative of meritocracy will lead to our misfortune.”⁠ — Sarah Conanan

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