Eduardo Zobel

A bonafide free spirit, Madrid-born visual artist Eduardo Zobel spent his post-university years on the move, seeking inspiration where and when it would present itself to him. “I was unlearning things, separating myself from the primers that influenced how I saw the world growing up,” he shares. “I stopped doing certain things in certain ways, and worked to refocus my interests and efforts. All this somehow helped me become productive regardless of whatever environment I was in.”

Eduardo tried his hand at business school for a year and a half before dropping out to enroll at an art school, realising that it was possible to make a career doing something he was truly passionate about. He did plenty of digital work in the beginning, but felt more inclined to pursue an avenue that required him to learn outside of school or through practice. And so he turned to the fine arts.

When he came to the Philippines for a visit, he met the owners (Mike Kervelliant and Andie Ngan) of the up-and-coming outdoor space in Poblacion called The Social, who commissioned him to do the murals. “It was a massive, open canvas where I could showcase what I could do with the tools I loved using,” says Eduardo. “It felt amazing to be five feet above ground on that scaffolding. It freed me and made me feel alive again because I felt clustered in when I first arrived in Manila.”

At this stage, Eduardo is grateful as the effort he has put into his work is finally paying off. Though he’s bound to pack his bags and go exploring again someday, he’s content with staying put for now, hoping to forge connections with the country of his passport. His advice to aspiring artists? “Stay true to yourself; don’t get shut down by naysayers. It helps to have a clear vision of what makes you happy.”