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.

Anitun Tabu

Anitun Tabu

Decolonial Minimalism Founding Work - Filipino Deities

Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels

Medium: Digital Art

Artist: IJWBAA

Year: 2025

Description:

The artwork by IJWBAA presents a minimalist interpretation of Anitun Tabu, the Tagalog goddess of wind and rain, through a decolonial lens. The piece employs geometric abstraction to capture the essence of Anitun Tabu, emphasizing her fluid and dynamic nature with simplified forms. The central figure, resembling a raindrop with a circular head, symbolizes the goddess's connection to water and weather. The surrounding elements, including wavy lines and droplets, represent the wind and rain she controls. This approach moves away from colonial artistic influences, focusing instead on indigenous Filipino storytelling and cosmology.

Anitun Tabu, a significant figure in pre-colonial Philippine mythology, embodies the natural forces that were integral to daily life. As a deity of wind and rain, she symbolizes the balance and harmony between these elements, reflecting themes of duality and the interconnectedness of nature. Colonial rule often sought to suppress and distort such indigenous beliefs, branding them as primitive or superstitious.

By reducing Anitun Tabu to abstract, minimalist shapes, IJWBAA's work challenges these colonial distortions, reclaiming the goddess's identity within Filipino heritage. The restrained composition shifts the focus from exoticism to cultural reflection, demonstrating that tradition can evolve without losing its essence. This piece not only revives indigenous narratives but also serves as a visual statement on artistic sovereignty, ensuring that folklore remains relevant in contemporary spaces while staying true to its origins.

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Media:

Artells Magazine New York USA - Sense.View.Style July (Vol 3412), July 24 2025, https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3128869

Digital Arts Blog NY USA - Quiet Power: How I Elevate Filipino Art Through Decolonial Minimalism, May 26, 2025. https://www.digitalartsblog.com/community-blog/quiet-power-how-i-elevate-filipino-art-through-decolonial-minimalism-ijwbaa

The Global Filipino Magazine UAE - Filipino Artist IJWBAA Redefines Minimalism with a Decolonial Lens, May 27, 2025. https://theglobalfilipinomagazine.com/filipino-artist-ijwbaa-redefines-minimalism-with-a-decolonial-lens

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.

Filipino Deities VR Exhibit, OncyberIO, June 1-31, 2025. https://oncyber.io/filipino-deities.

Paper:

Hafalla, P. (2025). Decolonial Minimalism in Art: Reclaiming Space, Silence, and Memory. Academia.edu, May 23, 2025. https://www.academia.edu/129488482/Decolonial_Minimalism_in_Art_Reclaiming_Space_Silence_and_Memory_by_IJWBAA_Paul_Pao_Hafalla