Description:

Maria, Maria! is a project that seeks to explore the many facets of Filipina Identity in the realm of visual and literary representation. To do this, it follows the story and adventures of a fictional character named Maria. 
Part Pre-Colonial myth, part homage to the 19th Century Spanish-Colonial Filipina, Maria grapples with struggles of identity, religion, appearance, and courage—all themes that modern day, real-world Filipinas struggle with. Thus, the project hopes that young Filipinas—who rarely get to see themselves and the complexities of their cultural identity properly represented in the media—may read Maria’s story and see themselves reflected in her heroic, yet vulnerable acts. 
Through a series of seven assemblages, Maria traverses through sea, land, and sky, bringing the bold landscapes and bright, colourful creatures of Filipino mythology into the intensely sacred space of devotional shrines and 3D assemblages. By framing indigenous folklore with Western Literary Devices, the project hopes to create a timeless, familiar narrative that all audiences can enjoy—with a native twist.