“ADARNIQUE”
2022
Acrylic on Canvas
72” x 48”
This piece presents a story behind the Adarna Bird, a mythical creature from the Philippines. The bird is known not only for its magical tears that have healing powers, but also its fatal droppings that will turn you into stone. The background is an immense portrayal of spring, of life, of celebrations — complete with fireworks in the color of the trans flag, it suggests a celebration for the community. Also painted are two trans women, Dominique and Aisia Castelano, both seemingly turned into stone statues. The dichotomy of the piece explores the conversation between the apparent milestones in the trans community through representation in TV, film, politics, etc., yet on the other hand, the heightened lack of resources, food insecurity, the relentless assault on the community. This assault is seen through the various legislations being written across the country that contain some of the most dangerous bills which come from the largest states, alongside other dehumanizing policies set in place across the globe — targeting specifically youth BIPOC trans people — and the alarming rates of harassment, and violence that is happening to the already vulnerable community.
METRANSVERSE TRIPTYCH (2022)
Digital Art Film (in collaboration with Zel Downey and Array Bercov)
The triptych starts with ‘Dyipnique’ as it represents home for the artist. The Jeepney in it is inspired by the same one the artist had parked in her childhood home in the Philippines which her younger transgender sister and muse of the piece Aisia still resides in. It cuts to ‘The Domiverse’ which represents how the artist has traveled away from home to the United States in order to access and begin her medical transition. Following the finish of the transformation is an imagined reconnection with her sister who has also achieved transitioning in the Philippines through Dominique’s help and they both meet in the same place for the first time. This is an artistic piece exploring the feeling of the artist’s longing for reconnection through her work as they have not seen each other for 8 years now. The triptych is finished with ‘Adarnique’, which represents a challenge and a threat to not only the reconnection but also being queer of color in this cisheteropatricarchal world.
