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.

Mayan

Mayan

Decolonial Minimalism Founding Work - Filipino Deities

Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels

Medium: Digital Art

Artist: IJWBAA

Year: 2025

Description:

Mayan artwork presents a minimalist interpretation of the Tagalog god of the moon and war, distilling his essence into geometric abstraction. The bold circular form symbolizes Mayan’s celestial domain, while the intersecting lines and sharp angles evoke themes of strategy, conflict, and cosmic movement. This approach moves beyond colonial artistic conventions, grounding itself in indigenous Filipino storytelling to reclaim Mayan’s significance.

In pre-colonial Philippine mythology, Mayan was revered as both a warrior and a celestial force, embodying the duality of destruction and guidance. Indigenous societies saw warfare not just as conquest but as a balance of power and protection, deeply connected to cosmic cycles. The moon’s phases influenced tides, battles, and rituals, making Mayan’s presence vital in both physical and spiritual realms. Over time, colonial narratives reshaped native cosmologies, often distorting Mayan’s role within Filipino identity.

Through refined yet intentional simplicity, Mayan’s visual language restores his place within Filipino heritage, resisting imposed distortions and reclaiming ancestral wisdom. The artwork shifts the focus from grand depictions to introspective reflection, inviting viewers to engage with themes of power, transformation, and celestial influence. As a statement on artistic sovereignty, this piece ensures that indigenous perspectives on war and cosmic order remain relevant in contemporary spaces while staying rooted in 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.