Faye Pamintuan

Dilemma of the diaspora in dynamic forms
By Nabila Giovanna W

Faye Pamintuan’s studio in Houston, Texas. Image courtesy of the artist.

Faye Pamintuan (b. 1994) is a Philippine-American artist currently living and working in Texas, USA. Born in Manila, Philippines, she spent her early years in Houston, USA, before returning to the Philippines to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Following this, she resided in Bulacan, Philippines before eventually settling back in Texas. Her experience living between two countries has informed her artistic practice.

‘How Do You Say Goodbye’, 2023, installation view. Image courtesy of Mono8 Gallery.

As part of the diaspora, Faye faced the challenge of not fully being either Filipino or Texan. She calls this the “dilemma of the diaspora”, which she addresses through her recent exhibition ‘How Do You Say Goodbye’ (2023)a. The title comes from Arielle Acosta, one of her collaborators for the exhibition, where she wrote about the feeling of losing a companion in the form of a tree when it was cut down. This was how Faye felt when she moved away from the Philippines.

Through this show, Faye charts her experience in living between Manila and Houston for the past eleven years. The exhibition also displayed her explorations with different mediums, including works on canvas and paper, and additionally art book-making, in collaboration with Arielle Acosta, as well as two other writers Andrea V. Tubig and Lorenzo Alvendia.

Faye Pamintuan, ‘The Protector’, 2022, oil on canvas, 122 x 366cm. Image courtesy of the artist.

Faye Pamintuan, ‘Harnessing the Light I’, 2022, acrylic ink and graphite on watercolor paper, 114 x 122cm. Photo by E.J. Concepcion. Image courtesy of the artist.

Faye’s works are known for their lively colours and dynamic forms that seem to dance together on the canvas. While they may appear spontaneous, her forms draw inspiration from structure and order, much like the organised chaos of the universe. Her works are also titled with actionable verbs such as ‘Harnessing the Light I’ (2021) and ‘The Protector’ (2022) that encourage viewers to interpret and imagine the stories behind each piece.

Describing the complexities of living as a diaspora is no easy feat. However, Faye's art acts as a bridge that leads viewers into her world and lets them understand her journey firsthand. Through her work, she invites people to see things from her perspective by exploring the many facets of diasporic life.

Click here to read our dialogue with Faye Pamintuan, where she speaks about her solo show with Mono8, OVERINKED and her day as an artist.