1. kiwi fruit
22 May 2023
I decided to stretch it into a canvas frame. I made it as if I was a kiwi fruit because I’m a Kiwi/New Zealander. I made sliced kiwi fruits as my mouth and ear. This symbolises me only speaking and hearing one language. Yet I have the Philippine’s hawk-eagle facing towards me. I’m leaning toward the Phillipine hawk-eagle. This portrays me trying to get to know my culture more.
2. a lost kiwi
14 September 2023
I first started with an underlayer/toner of orange. This helped me find the missing spots of my painting. And sinc I’m trying to create a gouache look, the under paint colour of orange gives a warm feeling.
No matter how lost or out of place I was in the Philippines, I still felt the warmth and happiness.
3. revisiting lola’s house
25 August 2023
I used warm colour background/toner to give a warm feeling to the viewer. I also used warm colours as I felt happy in this picture reconnecting with my family in the Philippines.
I decided to paint me revisiting lola’s(Filipino word for Grandma) home. I did not get to build a strong bond with lola because I grew up in New Zealand. I was only able to meet her for the first and last time in 2012. This place is a special memory for me. The colour of the walls and detail of the background. I decided to change everyone clothing to Filipino traditional wear. Having a kiwifruit slice in my partner and I’s mouth to symbolise us “speaking in dollar” (speaking in english).
4. don’t speak
17 September 2023
When I revisited the Philippines 2023, I found out in the MRT/LRT trains, there is a female area carriage. I decided to paint a thin layer over the female area to show we arent in there but maybe just thinking how safer we would be if we were in there. I was not able to get onto the female area carriage as I was with my boyfriend. Next to me was my partner’s two cousins (both females) and my partner(male) on the right. There’s a female area carriage as a short-term fix for harrassments on trains. Masks are compulsory to wear in the Manila trains, but I thought it was also a good way to enhance the silence. Since I’m an only english speaker I was told I shouldn’t speak due to concerns of being targeted/robbed. There’s an AT (Auckland Transport) logo and a HOP logo to show that we’re in the same carriage.
5. disconnected
8 May 2023
In this artwork, I wanted to portray the disconnectedness towards my heritage. This is due to not being taught my native language. When I’m surrounded by my Filipino friends or family, I feel guilt and shame for not speaking or understanding.
Crystal Monique Biaño 