What are three life moments that made you who you are today?

I’ve noticed that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to organize my life in decades, almost as a way to keep some distance from it. The first was my childhood in the Philippines. The second, my teenage years and early twenties in San Diego. And the third is now, being in Chicago. I think those three periods shaped the way I move through the world, how I observe, adjust, and make sense of what stays with me.

Who or what is inspiring you these days? What’s shaping your thinking?

I’ve been rewatching a lot of Atom Egoyan movies. There’s a way he composes his scenes where he amplifies his characters, skewing their surroundings without ever questioning their realities which then makes me question myself as a viewer.

Do you feel you are more instinctual or intentional when you create?

Instinctual. I like when my hands take over and I lose control of them a bit but then at some point a level of intentionality helps finish the job.

Observation and people-watching play an important role in your work, as does memory. Is there a particular moment you observed that has stayed with you?

Yes, that ultimately sums up my daily practice. Today, it’s my neighbourhood grocery store staying open during some interior construction. There is a palpable tension between the construction workers and store clerks and us customers navigating the once familiar space now that is slightly off. It’s a small moment, but it lingers. That kind of subtle distortion is what I tend to hold on to.

You’ve spent time living and travelling in different places. How does drawing or sketching factor into how you come to feel at home in a new environment, if at all?

As an immigrant child, I learned to survive the strangeness of a place and people, assimilating became understanding and drawing became note taking. I’ve carried that with me since. When I’m drawing in a new environment, it’s how I begin to feel at home. There’s a protective shield that comes up and I feel invisible in a way.

What do you want people to think or feel as they flip through the pages of your book?

Because the book is small, I like the idea of it getting lost in someone’s bag, almost forgotten, then found again later. I imagine them returning to it and seeing something different each time.

Can you think of one piece of good advice someone gave you, and who said it?

There’s a fellow regular at the café where I draw who I’ve learned from, even without meeting or ever speaking to her. She lays her drawings out, talks to the people around her, other regulars know her, the staff clearly have a relationship with her, seems very present in her community. I tend to stay in my own world, so I admire that. I’ve never actually met her, but maybe one day I will if I follow her lead.

What is one thing you want to accomplish this next year?

I’ve been fortunate enough to be in spaces where I can show my work, through print or in gallery space. So being able to continue doing that would be really cool.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime?

Acceptance that I won’t be able to remember everything.

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