In Someone to Watch Over Me, Louie Bretaña explores the profound relationship between ancestral spirits (anito) and the natural world, a connection central to indigenous Filipino cosmology. Through this body of work, Bretaña navigates the intersection of historical reverence and contemporary artistic expression, invoking ancestral and nature deities (diwata) as protective presences. His use of glass crystals and glitter extends beyond aesthetic embellishment; these materials function as conduits of resilience, illuminating the enduring spiritual ties that shape Filipino cultural identity.
Bretaña’s practice engages with the ancestral as both guardian and witness, emphasizing the role of anito as intermediaries between humanity and the divine. His compositions invite a reexamination of the ways in which spiritual belief systems persist and evolve within contemporary discourse. By integrating traditional motifs with materials that evoke light, transcendence, and transformation, Bretaña constructs a visual language that is at once historical and immediate.
The exhibition fosters a contemplative space where viewers can reflect on the presence of the past within the present, acknowledging the unseen forces that guide, protect, and inspire. Through this synthesis of materiality and mythology, Bretaña reaffirms the enduring relevance of indigenous spirituality in a rapidly shifting world.
