In his new solo xhibition Someone to Watch Over Me, Louie Bretaña delves into the intricate relationship between ancestral spirits, anito, and the natural world—a connection deeply embedded in indigenous Filipino culture. Through his work, Bretaña bridges past and present, invoking the spirits of his ancestors and the deities of nature, or diwata, as protective forces. Using glass crystals and glitter, he transforms traditional reverence into a contemporary homage, embedding the shimmering materials with symbolism that speaks to both resilience and reverence.
Bretaña’s work evokes a sense of guidance and presence that ancestral spirits hold in traditional Filipino culture, where they are seen as guardians and conduits to the divine. The exhibition invites viewers to engage with these layers of spirituality, exploring how the past watches over and informs the present. Bretaña’s visual language, both modern and timeless, honours these spirits with a radiance that captures the enduring belief in interconnectedness, continuity, and reverence for the unseen forces of nature.
