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.

Apolaki

Apolaki

Decolonial Minimalism Founding Work - Filipino Deities

Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels

Medium: Digital Art

Artist: IJWBAA

Year: 2025

Description:

Apolaki artwork presents a striking minimalist interpretation of the Tagalog god of war and the sun, distilling his essence into geometric abstraction. The bold circular form at the center symbolizes Apolaki’s connection to the sun, radiating strength and divine authority. The intersecting lines and angular shapes evoke both discipline and movement, reflecting the duality of war and cosmic order. This approach moves beyond colonial artistic conventions, grounding itself in indigenous Filipino storytelling.

In pre-colonial Philippine mythology, Apolaki was revered as a deity who governed warfare and celestial energy, guiding warriors and leaders in times of conflict. Indigenous societies viewed war as more than conquest—it was a balance of power, strategy, and protection, deeply intertwined with spiritual forces. Colonial rule later reshaped these narratives, often distorting native cosmologies to fit external ideologies, diminishing Apolaki’s place in Filipino identity.

Through refined yet intentional simplicity, Apolaki’s visual language restores the god’s significance within Filipino heritage, resisting imposed distortions and reclaiming ancestral wisdom. The artwork shifts the focus from glorified depictions to conceptual reflection, inviting viewers to engage with the deeper forces shaping leadership and resilience. As a statement on artistic sovereignty, this piece ensures that indigenous perspectives on strength and divinity remain relevant in contemporary spaces while staying true to their 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

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.