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.

Magwayen

Magwayen

Decolonial Minimalism Founding Work - Filipino Deities

Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels

Medium: Digital Art

Artist: IJWBAA

Year: 2025

Description:

Magwayen artwork offers a minimalist interpretation of the ancient deity of the sea and afterlife, distilling her essence into geometric abstraction. The fluid curves and contrasting tones symbolize Magwayen’s role in guiding souls across the waters to the realm beyond, capturing both movement and transcendence. This approach moves beyond colonial artistic conventions, reconnecting with indigenous Filipino storytelling to reclaim the depth of Magwayen’s significance.

In pre-colonial Philippine mythology, Magwayen was revered as the goddess who ferried spirits to the afterlife, embodying the cyclical nature of existence. Indigenous societies viewed water as a passage—an element that connected worlds, sustained life, and carried the spirits of ancestors. Over time, colonial influence reshaped these cosmological interpretations, often diminishing Magwayen’s place in native belief systems.

Through abstract yet deliberate simplicity, Magwayen’s visual language revives ancestral perspectives, resisting imposed distortions and restoring the significance of Filipino maritime mythology. The artwork shifts the focus from literal representation to introspective reflection, inviting viewers to engage with themes of transition and spiritual journey. As an assertion of artistic sovereignty, this piece ensures that indigenous narratives surrounding the afterlife remain relevant in contemporary spaces while staying true to their origins.

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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.

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