Mahal Kita

Acrylics on Canvas, 24 x 36in

This painting is a love letter to my great lola (great grandmother), who practiced Hilot. In her Indigenous Filipino culture, Manghihilot’s or Masters of Hilot, Elders would heal the mind, body and spirit of people in their community. It is believed that Elders such as my great lola could identify energy imbalances within people with the four elements, Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Each element representative of different areas/attributes of the body. Utilizing colours that I personally associate with the four elements, Red, Green, Blue, and White. I have created what I consider to be a harmonious balance of all four elements with these colours, utilizing my own intuition of shapes and linework that were calling to me as I painted this piece. To pay homage to the ethics involved in Hilot, I stayed true to my instincts with this piece in oppose to methodical planning. Allowing for her spirit to guide me through this process whilst keeping in mind my own wits and knowledge of abstraction. Which is a key element to Manghihilot. Respecting traditional knowledge while integrating contemporary discoveries to achieve cultural wisdom. As I’ve found throughout my time on earth, my mixed identity has made me often feel displaced in regards to Filipino Culture. This piece is a testament to my devotion to keep the teachings passed down to me and to allow for me to revitalize my love for my heritage and elders.