Kalikasan (2024)
Kalikasan, “nature” in Tagalog, translates to ‘the thing that has been there since the beginning of time’ or ‘the original entity’. This series highlights the beauty, power, and strength that comes from preserving the natural environment and cultural practices.
Fisherman’s Prayer
This piece is an homage to my seafaring ancestors: the symbols in the ocean represent the entities they would pray to in order to have a successful catch for the day.
Lakas [Red Torch Ginger Lily]
The red torch ginger lily is endemic to South East Asia. When I first saw this flower at a nature conservancy in the Philippines, I instantly felt an energy, beauty, strength, and presence. It demanded to be seen and observed. To me, this flower represented the power I feel when learning and making art about my Filipina-American identity—I feel strength, presence, and pride in my own skin and of the ancestors whose blood runs through my veins.
