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.

The Digital Artist Digest by IJWBAA Year 2025 | Monthly Insights into Digital Artistry

The Digital Artist Digest is a convenient summary that offers a straightforward glimpse into a digital artist's journey over the past 30 days. It presents a concise narrative, capturing the essence of IJWBAA creative endeavors in an easily digestible format. With brevity as its strength, The Digital Artist Digest provides a condensed overview, highlighting the key moments and achievements of IJWBAA's recent artistic exploration. It serves as a convenient resource for anyone seeking a quick and informative update on the digital artist's story.

Year 2025

September 2025 marked a quiet but powerful milestone—my follow-up blood tests confirmed that my heart, liver, and kidneys are finally in good health. I'm deeply grateful for the convergence of divine grace, medical guidance, the right medications, and the lifestyle shifts that made this possible. Every result feels like a quiet echo of care, alignment, and renewal.

On Aug 8th, I marked IJWBAA’s third anniversary with a quiet post on social media—a simple gesture to honor my existence as an artist. Even amid ongoing health challenges, medication adjustments, and lifestyle shifts, I’ve begun to feel the slow rhythm of recovery. Grateful to my doctor for guiding this process. Holding onto hope that the coming weeks bring fuller healing. In the midst of all this, I received an invitation from Figgi Magazine in Italy to publish my work in their upcoming issue—a gesture of recognition that feels both timely and affirming.

In July 2025, my submission to NYAA for Sotheby’s charity show didn’t make the cut—but I’m genuinely thrilled that Satellite Foundation, in partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, was selected for both the show and its accompanying zine. It’s been a rough month: storm season’s in full swing here, with typhoons swirling alongside the usual parade of flu, coughs, and colds. Despite all that, I’m staying hopeful and deeply honored. I just submitted entries to the NYPL zine collection—fingers crossed they find a home there. On the health front: a severe stiff neck landed me in the ER for meds. Grateful it’s being treated; hoping for a full recovery soon.

In May 2025, I’m thrilled to have made it to the second round of the 12th Hiibrand Illustration Awards in China and am keeping my fingers crossed for the third! I also took a leap and submitted three of my digital artworks (1/1 prints) to the New York Academy of Art’s 2025 “Take Home a Nude” charity event. As part of my mission to expand my creative footprint, I’ve reached out to the National Library of China and the Bibliothèque publique d'information at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, offering to donate my two books and share my journey with a wider audience. On the 21st, I announced "Decolonial Minimalism," a movement I created and founded. Following this, I was featured on various media platforms across the North America, Europe, and Asia.

In April 2025, I took part in the Pictoplasma open call for their Germany exhibition, prompting me to remove my previous entries. I delivered via courier my digital art prints for the Incognito Art Show 2025, and my Filipino folklore pieces were featured in Tokyo’s 365 Art Plus Magazine (Case 76). Additionally, I advanced to the review stage of the Hiiibrand Illustration 2024 Award in China—hoping for a win. I also marked another year of life with a quiet moment at San Juan beach, reflecting on my journey with gratitude. On social media, I shared: "I may not walk in wealth, but I walk in health, purpose, and peace, building a quiet legacy, one stroke at a time." Lastly, I contributed to The Wrong Biennale 7th Edition "Open Pavilion" on LinkedIn, discussing Filipino Folklore and Identity and posting my digital works.

March 2025 has been a transformative month of resilience and growth. My artistic journey continues to explore heritage, identity, and relationships through the "Family" series, "Self-Portrait" exhibition, and "Sarimanok". While Artpil’s rejection was a setback, it reinforced the value of alignment with the right platforms. Persistence drives me forward, as seen in my third submission to "Reader’s Digest" and international exhibitions across the UK, Australia, Georgia, Japan, and China. This month highlighted the power of strategic positioning, embracing rejection, and maintaining visibility. Additionally, my three digital art prints arrived for the "Incognito Art Show 2025".

February 2025 was a deeply personal and transformative month for me. The sudden loss of a close friend led me to create One Friend as a heartfelt tribute, channeling grief into art. At the same time, my surreal dream inspired The Dinner, a 3D piece on WOMP, reflecting my ongoing exploration of digital mediums. While the local art scene remains rooted in tradition, I continue to seek new creative paths, stepping away from galleries to embrace evolving digital spaces. Submitting my work to Ani ng Dangal 2025 was a bold move, knowing it typically honors internationally awarded artists. Though I didn’t win, I’m grateful for the opportunity to stand among such esteemed creatives. This month reinforced my belief in digital art’s potential and my commitment to pushing its boundaries despite existing limitations.

January 2025 was a month of perspective shifts and new creative directions. While MoMA NYC’s rejection of my books was a setback, I chose to see it as a sign that I deserve better opportunities—an idea reinforced by the Uffizi Gallery embracing my work. Some admired Philippine galleries blocked me on Instagram, but I respect their choices and appreciate the inspiration they’ve provided. Amid the LA fires, I was relieved to know the Getty kept my books safe. On the brighter side, my folklore art is gaining international visibility in a Rome magazine and Art Future Club in Hong Kong. I’m also pushing my artistic boundaries by diving into AR, 3D printing, and data art while curating my third book, which will be released soon. A poll I sent out showed that 69% of my community believes joining local exhibits isn’t crucial, reaffirming my decision to focus on global opportunities. This month taught me that rejection can be redirection, artistic evolution is constant, and my work is finding its place where it truly belongs.

SO, WHAT'S NEXT?

Hi, I'm Pao aka IJWBAA. I'm a digital artist, painter, and a book author from the Philippines. If you enjoyed reading this you might like to read also:

• The Digital Artist Digest

• Poems by IJWBAA

• Quotes from a Wannabe Artist

• Notes to Self

I would greatly appreciate if you could kindly share this to people whom you know will be interested to read this through social media, email, text, or message.

Thank you.