[Ontario, Canada] What happens when art becomes both a mirror and a time machine? For multidisciplinary artist Bayani Catapang, the answer lay in his exhibition RETROGRADE 2025 — a bold fusion of visual art and spoken-word poetry that delved into themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage. Organized by the Kingston Arts Council, the show invited audiences into an immersive world of installations and live readings, where color, sound, and symbolism intertwined to reflect on the Filipino diaspora — not just as a story of migration, but as a living, breathing experience of transformation.
Presented last month, RETROGRADE 2025 was anchored by Catapang’s collection The Modern Filipino and reflected deeply on personal history and the complexities of modern life. In conversation with FilAm Jam, Catapang shared some of his featured works and offered insights into his creative process, revealing how each piece serves as both a personal reckoning and a cultural bridge between his Filipino roots and contemporary artistic practice.
Reclaiming Roots Through Art
Catapang, who spent much of his career creating Pacific Northwest–inspired commissions, says RETROGRADE 2025 marks a turning point.
“My recent works, starting with The Modern Filipino Vol. 1, are the first instances where I’ve created art featuring Filipino identity,” he shares.
Now in his 30s, Bayani is consciously reconnecting with his heritage — honoring ancestral memory while embracing the complexity of being a Filipino living abroad.
Each of the six sets in RETROGRADE 2025 unfolds like a chapter in a personal mythology:
Healing invites viewers into a contemplative space centered on resilience, memory, and emotional restoration. The set reflects on the work of reconciling past traumas, offering a message of renewal and hope. Dedicated to Bayani’s therapist, Mme. St. Louis, the set incorporates personal symbolism—her Pisces identity, affinity for sea life—and references Bayani’s passion for Pacific Northwest art and his home province of British Columbia.
King features the Philippine Eagle and is dedicated to Bayani’s two younger siblings. Three of the six pieces depict the birth of a third eaglet, while the remaining three portray three eagles in full—representing family unity and the importance of kinship in Filipino culture. The set also connects to previous works, including The Modern Filipino book covers and Catapang’s earlier Philippine Eagle collection.
Holy draws inspiration from the Bulul statues of the Ifugao people in Northern Luzon. Traditionally tied to agriculture and spiritual protection, these ancestral figures are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Catapang explores ancestral memory, cultural resilience, and spiritual healing, emphasizing how diasporic Filipinos reclaim indigenous symbols once suppressed by colonization.
Peace centers on the Carabao, the national animal of the Philippines, as a symbol of resilience, labor, and ancestral connection. Catapang reimagines the Carabao as a metaphor for endurance, humility, and cultural strength. The set honors the invisible labor and ancestral wisdom that continue to shape Filipino identity across generations and geographies.
Maskara foregrounds Filipino folklore, highlighting the coexistence of pre-colonial beliefs and Christianity. The six pieces interpret Dwendes and Diwatas, emphasizing reverence for nature and the preservation of cultural icons. The set also nods to Bayani’s early creative journey as a graphic novel line and color artist (ages 15–20) and his beginnings in Japanese-style tattooing, adding stylistic and symbolic depth to the work.
Strength is an abstract tribute to Bayani’s mother and two siblings, exploring the interconnectedness of family and identity. The compositions feature three geometric shapes—square, triangle, and circle—symbolizing unity and individuality. Each piece also deconstructs the color wheel, reflecting Bayani’s commitment to color balance and flow throughout his artistic process.
A Process Rooted in Collaboration and Intention
Catapang’s artistic process is as meditative as it is meticulous. He begins every commission with a conversation — listening for the story behind the client’s vision. After sketching and digital refinement, he brings each work to life in acrylic or mixed media, often going through 20 to 30 revisions to achieve harmony.
“Every composition integrates the client’s vision with cultural symbolism,” he explains. “Color balance, flow, and emotion are equally important.”
The result is deeply personal — art that feels alive, intentional, and collaborative.
From Canvas to Clay and Song
Looking ahead, Bayani’s next “life projects” expand beyond the gallery walls. One is a deep dive into Filipino pottery, inspired by memories of handcrafted water vessels from his grandparents’ home in the mountains of the Philippines.
“This will be the primary memory I seek to capture,” he says.
The other? A self-written and produced R&B and Hip-Hop album, a creative homecoming that bridges his gospel-singing childhood and years as a hip-hop dancer and choreographer.
Music, movement, and visual storytelling — all interconnected, all Filipino in essence.
For Filipino-Americans navigating identity, Catapang’s RETROGRADE 2025 is more than an exhibit — it’s a reflection of our collective journey. It’s about tracing our roots through memory, remixing our stories through art, and finding peace in the push and pull of heritage and modernity.
In Bayani’s words and work, we see what it means to move forward — by first looking back.
About the Author
Bayani Catapang is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey began at 15 with commissioned painting and graphic design, alongside a flourishing street dance career that led him to represent Canada at Hip Hop Internationals 2012. At 19, he expanded into tattoo artistry, now freelancing with a focus on neo-classical and tribal styles. In 2024, he published The Modern Filipino, a three-volume spoken word anthology exploring the immigrant experience.
For a glimpse into Bayani’s current vibe: his playlist’s top track is Lisboa by Anavitoria. His comfort food? Pork Pinakbet, with Igado a close second. Grounded, flavorful, and soulful — just like his art.
