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Buwaya
Gianna Villavicencio
Digital art, 21.33 x 28.46 in., 350 dpi
In Buwaya (Crocodile), I was inspired by the Art Nouveau elegance of Alphonse Mucha to bring awareness to Philippine government corruption. This digital work focuses on a figure in a crocodile mask—a metaphor for greed—sat on a throne of currency while ignoring those drowning in floodwaters. I included traditional batok (tribal) patterns of crocodile teeth and pythons to frame the piece, symbolizing both the predator and the people’s strength. Through contrasting elements like wilting sampaguitas and a hopeful dove, the artwork highlights the devastating impact of corruption while also urging courage and resilience to fight for what is right.
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Luency
Mary Uehara
11 x 17 in.
This self-portrait examines personal growth through the lens of optimism, illustrating how internal positivity reshapes one’s perception of the world. Created by scanning a textured colored-pencil drawing into Procreate, the piece merges traditional layering with digital manipulation. The background, a cloned and vibrantly adjusted texture from a reference photo, mirrors how a hopeful internal state can “brighten” external reality. By incorporating radiant leading lines that act as symbolic “rays of hope,” the composition draws focus to the subject while emphasizing a harmonious, luminous relationship between the self and the environment.
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Remember Remorse
Mary Uehara
Digital (Ibis Paint X & Procreate)
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Your Best Suit
Mary Uehara
Digital, 3000 x 4243 px (Ibis Paint X & Procreate)
Your Best Suit continues my exploration of grief, focusing on depression. The white-haired protagonist stands in a distorted bathroom, tying a noose-tie in funeral attire. Using a distorted lens, I warped the perspective to create physical imbalance. I tried to maintain his likeness while also displaying a slow passage of time with his longer hair and overgrown black roots. The harsh overhead lighting creates a “halo” effect, making him the focal point in a cramped space filled with extra mirrors to remove negative space. The mold represents the nature of depression.
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Fault
Mary Uehara
Digital, 3069 x 4700 px (Ibis Paint X & Procreate)
The name “Fault” has a double meaning, both the cause of an earthquake and when blame is placed. Since my character is usually more cool and collected, I exaggerated his face, particularly his eyes which immediately pop out. By making his head extremely big relative to his body, his expression looks more intense. The checkers not only provided a grid but also to imply a game of chess, a strategic ‘life or death’ battle, similar to how grief puts individuals at odds with themselves and those closest to them.