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.

Tikbalang

Tikbalang

Decolonial Minimalism Founding Work - Filipino Folklore

Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels

Medium: Digital Art

Artist: IJWBAA

Year: 2025

Description:

Through decolonial minimalism, IJWBAA’s Tikbalang artwork reimagines the mythical being with bold geometric forms and a contemporary aesthetic. The piece simplifies the horse-headed guardian, emphasizing its towering presence while stripping away colonial artistic conventions. By presenting the Tikbalang in a minimalist form, the artwork resists Westernized depictions of supernatural beings, reclaiming indigenous Filipino visual storytelling.

The Tikbalang has long been a fixture in Philippine folklore, often described as a trickster spirit that leads travelers astray or protects sacred forests. Pre-colonial beliefs viewed it as a force of nature, embodying themes of transformation, deception, and guardianship. However, Spanish colonization reframed the Tikbalang as a malevolent entity, reinforcing narratives that demonized indigenous spiritual traditions.

IJWBAA’s approach rejects these colonial distortions, allowing the Tikbalang’s elongated form and stark contrasts to speak for itself. The restrained composition shifts the focus from fear to reverence, demonstrating that folklore can evolve without losing its essence. This reinterpretation reaffirms the power of Filipino mythology in contemporary spaces, proving that cultural identity can thrive without external influence or dilution.

Featured On

Website:

coming soon

Social Media:

Filipino Mythology, Art Future Club Hong Kong, Instagram, Jan 25, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DFOxgVmsNYq.

Publications:

Collect Artwork Org - Men Art (Special Edition), Vol 61,? Tbilisi Georgia, March 13, 2025, https://www.collectartwork.org

IJWBAA. Artells Magazine (digital and print) - Fine Art and Visual Arts, Vol 3194, New York USA, May 14, 2025. https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3073196

IJWBAA. Manananggal. 365 Art+ Magazine, no. 76, 15 Mar. 2025, p. 36, https://ko-fi.com/s/225b940ddd.

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.

What Makes a Filipino? VR Exhibit, OncyberIO, 1-30 Apr. 2025. https://oncyber.io/what-makes-a-filipino.