Artist Statement

I create multi-sensory installations utilizing glass, scent, sound and performance that reinterpret female archetypes in Philippine mythology and engage with ecological crises in the Global South. My practice once focused on archetypes such as the maiden but has recently shifted to the monstrous feminine – a symbol of female loss, rage, resilience, and prosperity. I specialize in glass flameworking, and though the tradition originates from glass scientific models, I merge my glass invertebrates and plant forms with female body parts. By injecting the “monstrous feminine,” I hope to resurface the matriarchal voices of precolonial Philippines and illuminate our hidden cultural history. The enmeshing of the female body and natural forms is strongly rooted in Filipino mythology and animism, which encourages a spiritual relationship between humanity and nature. The installations culminate in performances where the interactive nature of my sculptures is triggered. I devise sculptural tools and experiences that engage the senses and encourage sensory healing and embodiment during the performance. These performances are based on written scores where I often work collaboratively with scientists, perfumers, and sound artists. Recently, site-specific ecological research has been important to my process, with an emphasis on both natural and cultural conservation.