At First Light 2025
Reclaimed Victorian floorboards, plywood, acrylic and walis tambo
420 x 60 x 60cm
At First Light is a sculptural work inspired by the Filipino banca boat—modelled after my grandfather’s fishing vessel. The banca, traditionally used for transporting small groups and fishing. Its form is shaped by regional design research, my own experiences, and the memories shared by my mother and extended family, whose stories helped reconstruct my best approximation of my grandfather’s boat.
Mamingwitay (Surigaon dialect for 'fisherman')
The boat is a fiction. I never saw my grandfather in a boat, not see him work as a fisherman. He would be largely stationary when I saw him. Injuries to his knees from working out in the elements has robbed him of free movement. He would sit outside on the porch.
My sister and I would ask our mother if we could go to the beach the next day. She would defer to my grandfather. He would ponder, and feel, and gradually gaze at the moon. Hold his hand up and feel the wind on his worn calloused hands.
He would advise my mother of the best time to go and the type of weather to expect and when we should leave. It was always rainy season and he was always accurate. As a child, without internet and no satellite weather coverage accessible I guess I believed him to be a magical figure.
Mamingwitay ❤️
The boat and the broom are both my fact and fiction. Both symbols of working class labour, adventure and home.
Stay Sweet 2025
Jesmonite, candied jellies, ube
25 x 10 x 10cm
Halo-halo is a beloved Filipino iced dessert whose name translates to "mix-mix" in English—a nod to its eclectic composition. Traditionally, it features a vibrant medley of ingredients such as sweetened condensed milk, coconut-based gelatin confections, and finely shaved ice. Occasionally, unexpected additions like cornflakes are layered in, adding a surprising crunch to this playful, textured treat.
