WORK SAMPLES

ARTIST STATEMENT: ChiChai frees her Pinay roots from its history of colonial oppressions through her artwork. Being raised by nourishing yet firm and powerful women, her illustrations depict elements of nature as women spirits. Through fashion design, painting and illustration, ChiChai aims to honor indigenous craftsmanship, the matriarch that has raised her, and Mama Earth.

Sharing the Harvests, 2021-2022

2021-2022
Acrylic

My mural for @tndcsf upcoming community food hub "Kain Na," a new space to empower those facing food insecurity in Mission Bay with access to healthy and nutritious foods

Commissioned by @building180
With assistance by @veecaps

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A Landscape: Buhok Ko

2021

Video, textiles

02:18

*photo a still from visual poem*

This visual poem is my love letter to those before me, myself, and those bearing similar wounds. May we heal and build together. Watch full video here

Direction and costume design by me
Camera assistance by Celestine Urbano, Christopher Nguyen, and Raymond Balthazar
Makeup by Celestine Urbano

We're Home

2021
Gouache on paper
5 x 7 in. ea.

These two are inspired by the joy in finding home within one another.

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Diwata for SoMa

2021
Acrylic on wood
Mural for Kapwa Gardens

This mural is dedicated to the past, present, and future Filipinx making a home for us here in SoMa. A mural for the community couldn’t have been done without the community. I had the honor of meeting with activists and artists for their guidance in creating this diwata.

A special thank you to Oliver Saria of @bindlestiff_sf , Ate Shari Sarinas of @galingbata , Alleluia Panis of @kulartspresents , Desi Danganan of @kultivatelabs , Angelica Cabanda of @somcan.sf , and Rudy Corpuz of @united_playaz * please note that this is no way in representation of all that make SoMa the beautiful community it is but is representative of conversations I was able to have and own experience

** extra ty to @erinacalejo for SOMCAN photo reference

Embrace

2021

Mural for my mom's house

As said by environmentalist Robin Wall Kimmerer: "The trees act not as individuals but somehow as a collective... What we see is the power of unity. What happens to one happens to us all. We can starve together or feast together." There's a lot we can learn in the intertwining of these leaves and branches.

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Palayokan Birth

2019
Clay, canvas, homemade Filipinx-food dye, palm leaves

Self-Portrait

2019
Watercolor, wood, banig, block-printing
12 x 12 in.