IJWBAA [eej-wah] is a Filipino digital artist and the first Filipino recognized in the Techspressionism movement. He is a neologist and the originator of Decolonial Minimalism—an art movement that reclaims minimalism through ancestral memory and cultural reawakening. His works, compiled in two volumes of I Just Wannabe an Artist, have been recognized, officially archived, cataloged, and made available in the collections of the Gallerie degli Uffizi, Museo Reina Sofía, the National Museum of the Philippines, Getty Research Institute, and other prominent cultural institutions worldwide.

Alamat ng Saging artwork

Alamat ng Saging

Decolonial Minimalism Founding Work - Filipino Legends

Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels

Medium: Digital Art

Artist: IJWBAA

Year: 2025

Description:

This artwork captures the mythic essence of the banana tree through a playful yet poignant arrangement of curved forms and golden hues. The overlapping silhouettes suggest both the fruit’s familiar shape and the intertwined destinies of love and loss. Against a lush green backdrop, the composition evokes the warmth of devotion and the bittersweet nature of transformation.

In Filipino folklore, the Alamat ng Saging tells of a young woman—often named Maria—whose beloved vanishes into the spirit realm. In her grief, she buries his severed hands, only to witness a strange plant grow in their place. Its fruit, shaped like fingers, becomes a living memory of their bond. The banana tree thus emerges not just as a source of nourishment, but as a symbol of longing, remembrance, and the enduring power of love.

This abstract interpretation resists literal retelling, instead channeling the emotional resonance of the tale. Through repetition and rhythm, the artwork mirrors the cycles of grief and growth, inviting viewers to reflect on how stories take root in the land and in the heart. It reclaims the legend from moralistic framing and repositions it as a meditation on connection, memory, and the quiet magic of everyday life.

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Publication:

IJWBAA. Decolonial Minimalism. Photobook, mm/dd/yyyy, p. #. - coming soon

Exhibitions:

IJWBAA. Filipino Folklore and Identity: What Makes a Filipino? The Wrong Biennale – 7th Edition, Open Pavilion, 1 Nov. 2025 – 31 Mar. 2026, LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ijwbaa-eej-wah.