Arts & Culture

GULWA: A Solo Art Exhibit on Coming Out

Desiree Carabio hopes that through her art, people would be more accepting and most importantly, feel more accepted.

Photo by Denzel Yorong

Desiree Carabio, a Fine Arts student of the University of the Philippines, has always turned to art as a symbol of her self-expression. When she grew up in a family who does different forms of art such as sculpting, carving, and screen printing, it kindled her ardent desire to create art, more specifically venturing onto the artistic frontier of digital art.

As she is a self-taught artist, spending loads of time learning through video tutorials, she soon started to develop different art styles and techniques. Desiree is curating her first ever solo exhibit, her own expression on the issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. Dubbed as Gulwa, a Cebuano term which means to “come out”, the solo art exhibit is a dedication to everyone who feels different, and encourages them to come out and be their true selves.

“It is sad to know that some people imprison who they are just to fit in to what society dictates,” muses Desiree, as she describes the empowering embodiment of the exhibit and mentions its goal to inspire people to break free from holding back who they want to be.

Her digital art creativity brought her to great heights. During the 2016 49th Shell National Students Art Competition, her digital painting titled “Marlon Monroe”—an artistic take on the transformation and the complexities of gender—won 1st Place in the Digital Fine Arts category. Not only does the artwork focus on the advancements in the process of artmaking in this generation, but more importantly sheds ample light on the exceptional beauty of gender.

Photo by Denzel Yorong

An advocate for gender equality, Desiree says that one of the most challenging things about her art and the exhibit is that the subject makes most people uncomfortable because of the conservative nature inherent in the Philippines. What drives her to continue her craft is that she wants people who go through “coming out” to feel that they are okay and that there are people who understand what they go through.

“I myself am gender confused. And in my own circle, there are several who are undergoing the same, who are depressed about it, even running away from home because of it”, Desire says when asked about her strong advocacy. She hopes that through her art, people would be more accepting and most importantly, feel more accepted.

Her vision for this exhibit is to express through the canvas the struggles of finding one’s identity. As the artist herself relates to such experience, she continues to discover her true identity, one which is divergent from norms. Born into a conservative family, coming out was an experience that brought confusion, difficulty, bullying, and shame.

While many people still frown on or isolate the LGBTQ+ as they don’t fall into certain sets of societal norms traditionally assigned, the exhibit plays a pivotal role in highlighting the plight of the LGBTQ+, especially its youth as they face possibilities of homelessness, violence, and the internalized hate among the LGBTQ+.

Wrong, a sin, and an abomination. These are the words that the conservative mind runs to when faced with the LGBTQ+. With this, the artist calls for the LGBTQ+ community to be provided with utmost support and an environment inclusive of who they are, which is a crucial part of their personal development.

Gulwa will run at Artissimo Art House in Banilad, Cebu City from May 11-25. It will highlight not only awareness and visibility on the plight of the LGBTQ+ to the public, but more importantly serve as an avenue to share the stories that never get the chance to be heard or told.

Arts & Culture

Chaos and Clarity: Zen Aesthetic in Oj Hofer’s Art

by Jing Ramos |

Oj Hofer, our fashion contributing editor, is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines. Though he began painting at the age of eight, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2013. While volunteering as a costume designer for Siddhartha: The Musical, he encountered Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy, sparking a deep devotion to Japanese sumi-e painting and kanji calligraphy. Over the years, he refined his craft, using his art to share the Dharma through exhibitions while supporting the Hsing Yun Educational Foundation. In 2022, his spiritual path deepened at Nan Tien University, where he embraced Zen and Humanistic Buddhism, shaping his artistic philosophy.

“Plum Blossoms in Moonlight.” Serigraphy on abaca.

In his recent works, Hofer merges traditional calligraphy with serigraphy, drawing inspiration from his friend Charles Lahti—an internationally recognized New York-based painter and printmaker. Lahti, known for his collaborations with post-war American artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Judd, Andy Warhol, and LeRoy Neiman, introduced Hofer to silkscreen techniques. Through a workshop Lahti conducted in Cebu—arranged by their mutual friend Greg Urra—Hofer integrated silkscreen into his Zen artworks, particularly those on abaca.

“The Circle of Harmony” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.

Hofer’s cross-disciplinary approach challenges conventional Zen aesthetics. His layered paintings on abaca may seem far from tranquil at first glance, but closer contemplation reveals a meditative core. His serigraph of an Enso circle, for example, initially appears chaotic, filled with Tang Dynasty poetry and overlapping, repetitive forms. Yet, by focusing on a single calligraphic element, the viewer experiences a moment of clarity—a glimpse of awakening within the visual complexity.

“Monkey Mind” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.

Even more engaging is his diptych Monkey Mind. At odds with the traditional Zen emphasis on negative space, this piece is deliberately busy, reflecting the restless nature of the mind. A distracted viewer may struggle to find a focal point, but one attuned to emptiness and presence will perceive clarity amidst the seeming disarray.

Ink and intention—creating calligraphy in support of one of my advocacies.

By fusing Zen philosophy with the discipline of serigraphy, Hofer invites his audience to look beyond surface impressions and discover stillness within movement, balance within complexity. His art does not merely depict Zen—it embodies the paradoxes at its core, offering a path to mindfulness through the act of seeing and the experience of doing.

Arts & Culture

What is Sappia? The Rice Myth Goddess of Bohol Who Helped Feed the People During a Great Famine

by Emma Gomez

The story began when the people of Bohol started to experience hunger and famine. All the livestocks were inedible and the fields were dried out leaving only weeds planted on the ground. The people prayed to the goddess of mercy, Sappia, to ask for food.

Sappia, the rice myth goddess of Bohol

Sappia, from the heavens, heard the cries of the people. She saw the dense population of weeds and offered to help them. Sappia thought of nourishing the weeds to be edible and healthy for the people of Bohol. Straightaway, she sprinkled the weed with milk from her bossom. She emptied each breast until blood came out. Before she left, she whispered to the weeds that they may be nourished and be able to feed the people.

When harvest season came, the people of Bohol quickly gathered the nourished weeds. They observed that the ones sprinkled with milk were white, while the other were red. They called the new plant rice and they replanted these in honor of Sappia, and for the people to devour.

Arts & Culture

Kimsoy’s Canvas of a Lifetime in Full Display

by Diana Gillo

There is nothing more fascinating than seeing an artist’s lifetime of work in one room. Such is the experience in Jose “Kimsoy” Yap’s third solo exhibit entitled “Kimsoy: Episodes of Mastery,” at Galerie Raphael Cebu. This serves as the truest form of homage to his enduring journey, showcasing works that span over decades.

Kimsoy with his student and muse, Zhara Rivera Mercado, at the entrance of Galerie Raphael

The exhibit speaks greatly of Kimsoy’s evolution as an artist, with his shifting mediums and remarkable variety of subjects. His creations range from heartfelt portraits of individuals he encountered along his journey to detailed landscapes inspired by the different walks of his life. The room’s layout carries the weight of his years of craft with one wall lined with pastels, another with watercolors, and another with oil painting.

As the River Flows Onward by Kimsoy Yap 2020 | Oil on canvas | 82×48 inches

The exhibit transcends beyond just the commemoration of Kimsoy’s masterful periods. It wanders more into a sense of intimacy reflecting Kimsoy’s life’s journey—from his roots as a young boy in Negros Oriental, through his pursuit of greater artistic mastery in New York, to his prominence in Cebu’s art scene. All his work freehanded, created both with his left and right hand, depicts the ways in which we all leave traces of ourselves in our work and in the world.

A Friend of Mine 1979 | watercolor on paper | 24×18 inches

In a Relaxed Mood 1977 | water color on paper | 16×19.5 inches

The opening ceremony featured Ambassador Jose Mari Cariño, alongside special guests Ivy Ang Gabas, Paolo Li, Angbetic Tan, Laurie Bouquiren of the Visayas Art Fair, and Valerie Go of Galerie Raphael Cebu. The exhibit is open until March 21, 2025.