Almer Moneda is a Filipino contemporary artist based in Southern Luzon, Philippines (b. 1987). He is no stranger to visual arts. His degree in drafting from Laguna State Polytechnic University has given him a superb eye for anatomy and an ability to accurately depict mechanical devices. Moneda merges these two techniques into a surreal and hyperrealist oeuvre that brings some perspective to the photography community. Ideas such as the occasional voyeuristic tendencies of photographers, the “decisive moment” of photography ideologue Henri Cartier-Bresson, and the rules of composition are explored in a brilliant practice that recalls some of the most noted surrealist careers in art history.

Aside from the typical mimetic oil-on-canvas depiction of vintage Leicas and Rolleis, Moneda also attaches the cameras to the heads of various figures—adults, children, and even pets like dogs and cats. The degree of complexity in the details is a unique technique that Moneda has developed and reflects his drafting skills. A winner of various art competitions in Laguna, Moneda’s practice relies on an understanding of the world he portrays. He is an avid photographer and likes to collect vintage cameras, giving him that first-person viewpoint for his subject.