Mga Pagninilay (reflections, ruminations)
2025
hand-cut paper
13.4 W × 12.8 H × 11.2 D inches

The Tagalog word pagninilay roughly translates to reflections or ruminations. It refers to being in deep thought or contemplating. These 6 hand cut layers of paper are a reflection made in four chapters: tahanan (home), lipunan (society), kabuhayan (livelihood), and pag-ibig (love).

Light and reflection are inherently intertwined, shaping how we see and remember. Memories resurface when illuminated by thought, sometimes clear and vivid, other times distorted by time and perception, just like how light changes as it bounces off surfaces to create reflection. In this state of introspection, we revisit and reevaluate experiences under a new light, teaching us that memories are not static. Just as light can reveal hidden details out of the shadows, reflection can uncover forgotten emotions, deeper truths, and new understandings of past experiences, allowing us to see the past in a different way.

Photography by Kimmy Noonen and Victoria Pater

Roots and Remnants
2025
hand-cut paper
7 W × 7 H × 4 D inches

Trees are nature’s record keepers. Their growth rings are silent witnesses to survival. The Narra, Philippines’ national tree, carries this story. Its strength lies in its symbolism: heritage and the unyielding spirit of Filipinos. Yet this wisdom carries a paradox, one captured in the saying, “to forget our roots is to lose sight of our destination.”

In revisiting our roots, remnants of our past assemble into the very foundation upon which we build. Honoring the intricacies of our history allows us to connect it with our present as we learn that belonging grows from understanding where we’ve been. But when we own our roots, how much do we owe our roots? Do they empower us to chart new territories or suppress us with an incessant demand to look back?

The layered abstraction of this work mirrors this complexity: elements of a Narra tree as fragments that simultaneously reveal and conceal, nourish and constrain. Because understanding how our roots shape us, and sometimes vex us, is the work of a lifetime.

Aninag (reflection, transparency)
2024
hand-cut paper
10.75 W × 8.75 H × 1.125 D inches framed

Aninag is a Tagalog word that can mean reflection or transparency. As a verb, it pertains to peering into something not so obvious or difficult to see, or to make something out that was blurry or obscured by darkness, light, or another translucent object through its silhouette or other visual features. Interestingly, it is closely related to the word “anino” which translates to shadow. Aninag is the combination of anino and liwanag, which mean shadow and light respectively. These two words represent complementary forces that are interdependent.

Aninag sa mga Bulaos (reflection on paths)
2024
hand-cut paper
10.75 W × 8.75 H × 1.125 D inches framed

Bulaos refers to the trail or narrow path that leads to another place. More specifically, it is the footpath made by animals on the way to a watering place in a forest. The word bears this meaning in the Bulakenyo dialect from the Philippines. The Philippines has 130-195 spoken languages and dialects, which is why some words may carry multiple meanings across regions. In the main Filipino language, bulaos also means roar.

Aninag ng mga Gunita (reflection of memories)
2024
hand-cut paper
10.75 W × 8.75 H × 1.125 D inches framed

Gunita is a Tagalog word that means recollection or memory. It is related to reminiscence or reflection, and carries a sense of fondness for past experiences. It is used to reflect or think back on cherished memories or significant moments in one’s life. Sources indicate that aninag cognates in other Austronesian languages to mean shadow or reflection. Derivations of the word refer to mirrors and looking in the mirror according to a research of old dictionary compilations from 1754. The words pagninilay and aninag therefore infer reflection in different ways.

Photography by Kimmy Noonen

Where You Hang Your Hat pays homage to the saying, “home is where you hang your hat.” It pertains to the simple acceptance of the home as a place of residence, without nostalgia and sentiments attached.Images courtesy of the artist

In Moderation
2018
hand-cut paper
10.75 W × 8.75 H × 1.125 D inches framed

In Moderation (SOLD)
2018
hand-cut paper
10.75 W × 8.75 H × 1.125 D inches framed

In Moderation (SOLD)
2018
hand-cut paper
10.75 W × 8.75 H × 1.125 D inches framed

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Cold Spots
2018
hand-cut paper
10 W × 8 H inches framed

Cold Spots
2018
hand-cut paper
10 W × 8 H inches framed

Cold Spots
2018
hand-cut paper
10 W × 8 H inches framed

Cold Spots
2018
hand-cut paper
10 W × 8 H inches framed

Cold Spots
2018
hand-cut paper
10 W × 8 H inches framed

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Under the Topics (SOLD)
2018
hand-cut paper
10 W × 8 H inches framed

Under the Topics (SOLD)
2018
hand-cut paper
10 W × 8 H inches framed

Images courtesy of the artist