Sihay

This year, I’m deeply honored to be part of Botanical Art Worldwide – Philippines, a juried exhibition celebrating our country’s native flora through the hands and hearts of local botanical artists. As an initiative rooted in both science and storytelling, it brings together artists from across the globe to shine a light on plant biodiversity—and this time, we spotlight the Philippines’ heritage crops, the very plants that nourish our bodies, histories, and identities.

A Collective Tribute to Our Living Heritage

The Philippine exhibit is titled “Ani: Our Asset, Natural Heritage, and Cultural Identity.” It’s a fitting name. “Ani” evokes the harvest—both literal and symbolic—of what we cultivate and what we preserve. For this show, each participating member of the Philippine Botanical Art Society was assigned a unique plant species native to the archipelago. I still remember the moment when my assigned subject appeared: Nymphoides indica, also known as the Water Snowflake.

Delicate and often overlooked, the Water Snowflake floats gently on still waters—its fringed white petals blooming like a quiet revolution. Painting it became a meditation not just on beauty, but on resilience and belonging.

From Museum Walls to Digital Windows

While we await the physical unveiling of the exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, I’m excited to share that a virtual exhibition will launch on May 19, 2025. This online platform offers a powerful way to share our work with a wider audience—inviting people from across the world to experience the stories of our native plants, even before they grace the walls of the museum.

It’s more than a preview; it’s a celebration in its own right. Through this digital space, our artworks continue to grow roots and spark curiosity, transcending physical boundaries with each view and click.

Looking Ahead

I’m incredibly excited to see the full exhibit unfold—online and eventually in person. And I’m equally proud to stand beside fellow artists who, brushstroke by brushstroke, are helping reconnect people to plants, and plants to the public eye.

Stay tuned for the virtual launch this May, and I hope you’ll join us in celebrating Philippine biodiversity through art. Because when we paint our plants, we don’t just preserve them—we honor them.