Kudkuran ng Niyog (2022)

Wood, acrylic paint, brass

3.5 ft L × 2.5 ft H × 2 ft W

The Filipino coconut grater inspired this art object. I painted it in bright, flamboyant colors, much like many other crafts of the Philippines, and adorned it with Visayan-inspired patterns. Crafted from brass and wood, the piece blends tool and toy, tradition and play.

It has different expressions on its face: fear and frustration, reflecting my own difficulties navigating hybridity. The object is a playful yet reflective exploration of identity between worlds.