About the Exhibit –

 

For almost a decade, I have spent my life discovering and practicing the magic of Bohovee, which has been influenced by the energy of my studio in Binondo, Manila. This space is what I dubbed as the '6H temple of magick' or simply '6H studio'. Looking back, I truly cherish my personal time dressing up as Bohovee (through the costumes I bought from ukay-ukay) while gazing at my regal presence in the mirror or studying my natural feminine behavior and fierceness on video recordings. As part of my day-to-day life in my studio, switching myself to Bohovee has given me the inner strength and confidence to wholeheartedly embrace the way I am. Bohovee's passion for chanting, with the intensity of boldness and charm, has developed organically, perhaps because of the presence of supernatural beings, which I strongly believe exist in my room. For me, the 6H studio has been my sacred space for healing and self-reflection, paving the way for Bohovee's provocative and magical performances.

 

The location of my studio in Binondo, a historical part of old Manila, has been perfectly suitable for my art ventures, especially when I started making 'The Muses of Bohovee'. In this project, I have been scouting for potential male models (specifically typical workers such as delivery boys/helpers, and other attractive individuals in the Divisoria/Binondo area) whom I can possibly convince to pose as muses for my drawings, but with an exciting twist: they must be photographed naked or in skimpy briefs. My studio has been the private place for photoshoots with the muses, which later became the gateway to intimate connections and other magical happenings. The multitude of 4R/5R photographs on my studio walls, along with paintings/drawings that unveil the muses in daring poses, are considered immortalized images of adoration. They also set a special mood in my room and make a powerful impact on Bohovee's world.

 

This solo show titled 'Bohovee is Alive @6H_BedroomShrine' essentially brings to the forefront the idea of recreating my 6H studio and bringing it to life in the exhibition space. The title itself resembles a personal account on social media (like Twitter or Instagram), which I find interesting to mock because it mirrors the concept of reinventing your mundane identity into a virtual entity that can seem anonymous, fictional, or unfiltered, etc.

 

The fascinating world of Bohovee, shaped enormously by my 10 years of artistic journey in my studio, is what I want to celebrate and consider as a starting point. The ambiance, the unique energy, and all the essential elements that exist as the 'life force' in my studio are the things I really intend to embody. Through the gallery exhibition platform, I want to highlight the simple idea that Bohovee's performances continue with burning passion as life goes on, despite the difficulties, restrictions, and fears we all face in these trying times.

 

The installation of large tarpaulin photos with personal objects and costumes, the altar of pastel drawings, textile pieces, and performative videos are all considered various portals to the enchanting world of Bohovee. Most of the artworks (especially in video installations) can be traced back to my past performance projects, which I have made possible in various places, both locally and internationally. To me, my 6H studio has been like a vortex of energy where I primarily source and charge the magic of Bohovee.