Nomads of the Abyss

‬The‬‭ Cebu Echoes of Light‬‭ pop-up exhibition and PechaKucha‬‭ presentation were key moments in my‬ ‭ preparation for the Nakanojo Biennale 2025, where I am invited to exhibit in September 2025. The‬ ‭ exhibition featured works from my‬‭ Nomads of the Abyss‬‭ series, exploring human-ocean‬ ‭ entanglements through hydrofeminist and decolonial frameworks, and offered a meaningful space to‬ ‭ test emerging ideas, deepen the dialogical aspect of my practice within Cebu’s dynamic cultural‬ ‭ context, and build greater confidence in communicating my research through the fast-paced‬ ‭PechaKucha format.

‬My artistic research draws heavily from the idea of using play as a research tool, as well as‬ ‭ engaging with counterfactual storytelling and hydrofeminism. For this exhibition, I combined‬ ‭ traditional printmaking techniques, such as Suminagashi (water marbling) and pochoir stencil prints,‬ ‭ with immersive, participatory installation art. The installation component invited the public to interact‬ ‭ directly with the works, creating their own alternate underwater identities. This offered them a‬ ‭ creative space to rethink and reimagine the ocean not as a contested space but as a shared, fluid‬‭ environment. Through the PechaKucha presentation, I also incorporated theoretical insights from‬ ‭ Play theorists like Miguel Sicart and Kataryna Zinma to discuss how play can be used as a method‬ ‭ to challenge dominant political narratives.‬ ‭