HIS WILL HIS POWER
The emotional balance Wipo’s art brings continues to flourish in the contemporary art scene with sincerity and yes, willpower
If you’ve been exposed to the contemporary art scene, you’d have heard of his curious name at least once or twice. I took particular interest in the meaning behind his name. As a friend told me, it could be the abbreviation of “Work in Progress”, which actually makes sense. Wipo’s name continues to appear in show after show, gallery after gallery and only at an event where he’s come to visit have we learned what his name actually means: “Willpower,” he said nonchalantly. Sounds of awe and amazement filled the small circle we formed at a corner of the gallery. This began my journey to understanding what Wipo and his art really are about.
WI/PO
Before adopting the name he’s known for today, Wipo worked in the advertising industry—a job he believes hindered him from doing art. This struggle put him at an even tougher situation as his anxiety and depression continued to take a toll on him behind the scenes. Later on, these difficulties pushed him into stepping completely into the world of art and leaving his full-time job behind. In 2016, Wipo was born.
Fast forward to the present day, Wipo continues to innovate and evolve with his creations. From paintings and digital prints to sculptures and other unconventional media, the artist takes on art with genuine connections and motivations. Wittingly,
Wipo would say, “I punch my stomach once in a while,” when asked about the reservations he has when creating art—but this could also mean a thousand other things. The art industry has been blessed with a pool of talented artists, all remarkable. Thought-provoking pieces continuously fuel more and more of them to create with an ever-growing audience who patronize their masterpieces. Yet a lot of these artists remain repressed.
It is a constant battle for many artists weighing passion and responsibility. In multiple cases, a lot of artists end up neglecting their own voice in compromise with what clients or commissioners want. In the industry where Wipo was from, this is nothing new. Now that he’s become a full-time artist, Wipo has embraced empathy and sympathy as media, constantly aiding him in his creative process.
THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE
Wipo’s fascination for poetry continues to intersect with that of his art. In a recent show, “Self-Portrait as Mirror/Mirror as Self-Portrait,” the artist shares his vision of himself through what he sees behind closed eyes. “Doon kami nagkita sa likod ng talukap ng mga mata,” (We met behind the eyelids.) he writes in a poem called “Sa Sarili” (To Myself). Displayed with this is “Talukap” (Eyelid), a sculpture made from acrylic on epoxy clay. Shaped in what appears to be an eye, iridescent colors float fluidly across in paint as how light escapes through closed eyes.
Wipo quotes a poem by Dulce María Loynaz from her book Absolute Solitude in the interview. “I neither destroy nor create. I do not interrupt destiny.” In the past years, Wipo has created art in ways no one else could have imagined.
His first solo show, “Bahagharing Itim” (Black Rainbow) has allowed him to tap into his connections with the tire factory where his father works. This immediately proves the gravity his work has not only for himself but for the audience as well. “Validating [his art’s] accuracy is when his works echo the same emotions back to him,” his bio would say. This sincerity allows authenticity to thrive through and through with infinite possibilities through unpredictable hues and expressive strokes of the brush.
To an effect, Wipo’s works would take anyone to dimensions unimaginable. It’s a place that puts the viewer in his shoes—where one realizes that we are all one and the same. In a world where ideologies continue to clash, art embraces differences and puts us on the same pedestal as one another,
whether as an artist or as a spectator. Wipo’s works remain to be a conjunction of emotions that tap both into the heart and mind, but taking into consideration what he’s been through— deeply rooted in his struggles and guided by his willpower. “The importance of mental health and self-awareness is underrated,” Wipo says when asked about the message he wants to convey with his art. His pain makes up a chunk of his persona while his strength keeps him rowing; Wipo continues to celebrate his selfawareness and purpose—to touch others through his creations.
His unrestricted ways continue to emerge in the art scene, changing how people consume and digest art. In an age where he would claim people are creative and connected more than ever, the artist continues to grow not only with authenticity but what seems to be lacking in hyperconnectivity: empathy and sympathy. Through all these, Wipo remains grounded leaving us with words unforgettable. “Ang ganda ay nasa pagitan ng mga tainga; Ginto naman ang nasa gitna ng mga baga,” (Beauty is found between the ears, gold, between the lungs). "Reflect"
Reflective cloth and digital print